IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
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which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


n 
n 

n 
n 

n 

D 
D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 

Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommagde 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  peilicutde 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relid  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

l.areliure  serr6e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  dt6  filmdes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires.- 


L'lnstitut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  dt6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


□    Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

□    Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

I      I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pelliculdas 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcolordes,  tachetdes  ou  piqudes 


□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachdes 


r~y  Showthrough/ 
Lid    Transparence 


[~~]    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Quality  indgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  matdriel  suppl^mentaire 


D 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


I     y  Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
I  ^   slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  film^es  d  nouveau  de  fafon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 


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18X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

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details 
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modifier 
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filmage 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Lakehead  University 
Thunder  Bay 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  filmd  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Lakehead  University 
Thunder  Bay 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  te 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet^  de  l'exemplaire  U\m6.  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
fiimage. 


6es 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  -^^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED "),  or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimie  sont  filmis  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soft  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  film^s  en  commenqant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — -^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


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Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmds  k  des  taux  de  reduction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  film^  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup^rieur  gauche,  de  gaucne  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n^cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


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n' 


THE 


'     ^_. 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


OF 


RED-JACKET, 


OR 


S  A-GO-YE- WAT-H  A; 


BEINO 


THE    SEQUEL    TO    THE    HISTORY 


OF   THE 


SIX    NATIONS 


BY    WILLIAM    L.    STONE, 


'  HUMANI   NIHIL  AHENUM." 


NEW-YORK  AND  LONDON : 
WILEY      AND      PUTNAM 

1841. 


& 


■?:7 


h' 


1 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1841,  by  Wiley  &  Putnam   in 
the  Clerlt's  office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  Southern  District  of  New-York.      ' 


« 


NEW-YORK  : 

PRINTED  BY  WILLIAM  OSBORN, 

88  Williani-slreet. 


/i!^:r7-ri 


PREFAC  E. 


Putnam,  in 
•York. 


The  present  volume  is  but  one  of  a  series,  tlie  composition  of  which 

the  author  has  been  meditating  for  several  years.     The  original  design 

contemplated  a  complete  history  of  the  great  Iroquois  Confederacy, 

known  at  first  as  the  Five  Nations,  and  afterward,  by  the  addition  of 

the  Tuscaroras  from  North  Carolina,  as  the  Six,  from  the  discovery 

to  the  present  time.     Circumstances,  which  were  explained  in  the 

Life  of  Brant,  induced  the  preparation  of  that  work  first.     The  design 

of  that  efibrt  was  not  merely  to  embrace  the  biography  of  the  chief 

himself,  but  under  the  shadow  of  his  name  to  preserve  the  history  of 

his  people  during  the  half  century  of  his  active  life,  and  also  to  gather 

up,  and  reduce  to  form,  the  rich  materials  of  the  previously  unwritten 

border  history  of  the  American  revolution.     Brant,  both  as  the  military 

leader  and  civil  governor  of  his  peop'e,  and  also  as  one  of  the  most 

active  and  formidable  officers  of  the  border  service,  was  selected  as 

the  principal  figure  around  whom  to  weave  the  stirring  historical 

details  comprised  in  the  two  volumes  bearing  his  name. 


The  present  volume,  containing  the  life  of  the  great  Seneca  orator, 
Red-Jacket,  has  been  constructed  upon  the  same  plan.     After  the 


m 


IV 


PREFACE. 


i 


i 


death  of  Brant,  Red-Jacket  became  tlie  man  of  greatest  distinction 
among  tlie  Six  Nation:s ;  and  in  writing  his  life,  tlio  author,  as  in  the 
preceding  work,  has  used  him  as  the  principal  figure  in  illustrating 
the  history  of  the  Six  Nations  down  to  the  conclusion  of  the  treaty 
for  tlie  sale  of  the  residue  of  the  Seneca  lands,  in  the  autumn  of  1838. . 
That  treaty,  when  carried  into  execution,  extinguishes  the  confederacy 
of  the  Aquantischioni,  or  United  People, — a  confederacy,  the  duration 
of  which  is  lost  in  the  shadowy  obscurity  of  tradition  for  ages  before 
the  sound  of  the  white  woodman's  axe  rang  upon  the  solemn  stillness 
of  the  forest-continent.  The  life  of  Red-Jacket,  therefore,  may  be 
considered  as.  the  sequel,  or  conclusion,  of  the  History  of  the  Six 
Nations. 

Two  divisions  of  the  work  meditated  by  the  author,  and  those  the 
most  difficult  and  laborious, — remain  to  be  executed,  viz. :  the  Life 
and  Times  of  Sir  William  Johnson,  and  the  yet  earlier  history  of  the 
Iroquois  Confederacy  from  the  discovery  down  to  the  year  1735,  when 
Mr.  Johnson  first  planted  himself  among  the  Mohawks  in  the  valley 
of  their  own  beautiful  river.  The  life  of  the  Baronet  is  the  next, 
which,  should  health  and  time  allow,  the  author  proposes  to  take  in 
hand.  This  work  will  review  an  important  and  most  interesting 
period  in  the  colonial  history  of  New- York,  embracing,  as  it  must  do, 
the  border  history  of  the  colony  during  the  French  wars  of  1745,  and 
of  1755-63.  Nor  can  that  history  be  properly  illustrated  without 
recourse  to  the  archives  of  the  British  and  French  governments. 
Hitherto  the  author  has  been  disappointed  in  the  expectation  of  making 
a  voyage  to  Europe  in  connexion  with  this  branch  of  his  historical 
investigations.  But  he  hopes  yet  to  accomplish  this  object.  At  all 
events,  "The  Life  and  Times  of  Sir  William  Johnson"  is  a  work  the 
execution  of  which  will  not  be  relinquished  except  from  stern  necessity. 


X 


^'•■'^..; 


*  'Ml 


.1 


i\ 


I 


PREFACE. 


The  resiJuc  of  the  work,  covuring  the  earlier  period  of  the  proposed 
history,  will  of  course  be  deferred  to  a  yet  more  distant  day. 


In  rc<,';ird  to  the  present  volume,  the  author  can  only  say  that  he 
has  made  it  as  full  and  as  perfect  as  the  materials  which  he  has  been 
able  to  collect  would  allow.  The  subject  of  the  memoir,  it  must  be 
remembered,  could  speak  but  very  little  English,  and  could  not  write 
at  all.  lie  could  therefore  maintain  no  written  correspondence,  and 
consc(iuoutly  left  no  letters,  or  other  written  memorials,  to  aid  his 
biographer.  Such  was  not  the  fact  in  the  case  of  Brant,  whose  papers 
were  of  vast  assistance.  It  must  also  be  kept  in  mind  that  Brant  was 
a  man  of  war,  mid  Red-Jacket  a  man  of  peace.  Hence  in  a  memoir 
of  the  latter  a  far  smaller  amount  of  stirring  and  bloody  incident  is 
to  bo  anticipated,  than  in  one  of  the  former.  Indeed  in  this  respect 
the  books  are  widely  dissimilar.  And  yet  it  is  hoped  that  it  will  be 
found  not  altogether  devoid  of  interest.  The  name  of  Rtd-Jacket,  as 
the  groat  orator  of  the  Six  Nations,  is  among  those  most  familiar  to  the 
American  ear ;  and  this  volume  is  the  first  complete  record  of  his 
forensic  efforts  that  has  ever  appeared.  Neither  diligence  nor  ex])ense 
has  been  spared  to  make  the  collection  perfect  of  all  the  chieftain's 
speeches,  and  notes  of  speeches,  that  liave  been  preserved.  These 
have  been  arranged  in  the  text,  according  to  the  dates  of  their  delivery, 
and  in  connexion  with  the  history  of  the  occasiona  and  events  which 
called  them  forth.  The  author  is  aware  that  to  this  feature  of  hia 
arrangement  some  may  object  that  the  text  of  the  narrative  should 
not  be  thus  interrupted,  and  that  the  speeches  might  better  have  been 
thrown  back  into  an  appendix.  But  he  thinks  differently.  Had  they 
been  thus  disposed  of  they  would  not  have  been  read.-  -such  being 
the  usual  destiny  of  speeches,  letters  and  documents,  crowded  together 
at  the  end  of  almost  every  book  of  history.    And  certainly  when  they 


X 


VI 


PREFACE. 


( 


1    i 


are  read,  they  are  likely  to  be  batter  understood  and  appreciated,  if 
taken  i'l  their  ])ropcr  historical  connexion, — illustrating  the  occasions 
or  events  by  which  tiioy  were  ulicited,  and  in  turn  receiving  Buch 
illustrations  from  tiie  historian  as  seem  to  be  required. 

The  general  portraiture  of  the  subject  of  the  memoir  is  ample,  and 
is  believed  to  be  just.  Nothing  has  been  extenuated  witliout  sufficient 
cause,  nor  aught  set  down  in  malice.  The  thanks  of  both  autlior  and 
publishers  are  due  to  Mr.  Samuel  Ward  for  the  use  of  Wier's  fine 
picture  of  Rod-Jacket,  whicli  has  been  exquisitely  engraved  by  Mr. 
M.  I.  Danforlh.  To  the  kindr.ess  of  this  accomplished  artist  the 
author  is  likewise  indebted  for  the  beautiful  and  spirited  engraved 
title-page  preceding  the  letter-press  title.  He  also  desires  to  express 
his  thanks  to  Mr.  Osborn,  the  printer,  for  the  care  with  v.liicii  he  has 
supervised  the  press,  and  lor  the  typographical  elegance  of  the  volume. 

As  the  celebrated  chiefs  Farmer's-Brother  and  Cornplanter  were 
intimately  associated  in  public  affairs  with  Red-Jacket  for  half  a 
century  and  more,  brief  sketches  of  their  lives  have  been  added  to  the 
principal  memoir. 

New- York,  June  1,  1841. 


f 


III 


•*    » 


t 


reciated,  if 
J  occasions 


iving  such 


CONTENTS. 


ample,  and 
ut  sufficient 
author  and 
Wier's  fine 
aved  by  Mr. 
il  artist   the 
3il  on;^raved 
3s  to  express 
kvliicii  he  has 
if  the  volume. 

planter  were 

)t  for  half  a 

added  to  the 


CHAPTKR  I. 

Subject  of  the  biography — His  name— Prcliminnry  glinipsrs  of  liis  chamc- 
tci' — His  nation — Inniilontal  discussion  conconiing  thn  Irotiuois,  or  Five 
Nations — Traditiini  of  the  origin  of  tlie  Scnccas — Hill  of  fJonundi'wah 
— Uomantic  story — The  Huron* — History  of  the  Five  Nations — Chapter 
closes  in  doubt,       ........•• 

CHAPTER  II. 

Nativity  of  Sn-go-ye-wat-ha — Origin  of  the  name,  Red-Jacket — Senes  with 
the  IniHans  against  the  United  Stales — Charges  of  treaciiery  and  cowar- 
dice— Hatred  of  Brant — Called  "  The  Cow-Killer" — Cornplanter — 
Treaty  of  178!),  at  Fort  Stanwix — Views  of  WasliiMgtf)n — Course  of 
Red-Jacket  and  Cornplanter  there, — the  former  opposing  tlio  treaty,  and 
tiie  latter  etlecting  it — Dissatisfaction  of  the  Indi.ins  ill  the  result — Corn- 
jilanter  attempts  to  reconcile  them — His  failine — Ajipeals  to  (ienoral 
Washington — Claims  of  Massachusetts  to  Western  New-York — Massa- 
chusetts acquires  the  pre-emption  title — Sells  a  part  to  I'helps  and  Gor- 
ham — Stupendous  scheme  for  dismembering  New-York — The  plot  crush- 
ed by  (lovernor  George  Clinton  and  tho  legislature — Inklings  of  Red- 
Jacket's  duplicity,      ....... 

CHAPTER  III. 

Indian  relations  of  the  United  States  in  1700 — Dad  feeling  of  the  Senecas— 
Council  at  Tioga  Point — Red-Jacket — ('olonel  Pickering — Hendrick — 
Red-Jacket  revives  the  land  controversy — His  si)eecli — Extraoidinary 
Indian  ceremony — Visit  of  Coriipianter  and  Dig-Tree  m  I'liiladelphia — 
Appeal  to  General  Washington — l)u|)licity  of  C(irnplunter--The  proba- 
ble motive — Kindness  of  Washington  to  tho  deputation — Mission  of 
Colonel  Proctor — Council  at  DufTalo  Creek — Salutatory  speech  of  Red- 
J;  :kei — Dritish  intcrferoncc — Attempt  to  remove  the  council  to  Niagara 
— Resisted  by  Proctor— Farther  difficulties — Intermeddling  of  the  Drilisli 
ollicerg — Council  broken  up — Interposition  of  the  women,  anil  proceed- 
ings resumed — Red-Jacket's  speech  for  th"  women — Proctor's  mission 
abruptly  termiTiated  by  Colonel  Gordon — Colonel  Pickering  holds  a  coun- 
cil at  Pi)  '".l  Post — Influence  of  the  Indian  women — Favorable  result 
of  that  comiiliI — Propuiiliuns  for  aiding  the  Indians  in  the  arts  and  man- 
iicin  ul  civilizutiuii,  ...... 


ir 


35 


«# 


r 

II  ; 

■I' 

\\ 


Vlll 


CONTENTS. 
CHArTER  IV. 


Efforts  of  General  Washington  for  improving  the  moral  and  social  condition 
of  the  Indians — Mission  of  fifty  chiefs  to  Philadelphia — Welcomed  hythe 
Governor  of  Pennsylvania — Speech  of  Iled-.Iucket  in  reply — Ad<ires3  to 
the  chiefs  hy  President  Washington — Speech  of  IJed-.Tackit  in  reply — 
CommontB  upon  the  speech — Proposition  of  the  government  fur  the  im- 
provement of  the  Indians — Reply  of  Rod-.Tacket — Speech  of  Colonel 
Pickering  to  the  chiefs — Troubles  with  the  north-westein  Indians — Reply 
of  Farmer's-Brother  to  Colonel  Pickering — Reply  of  Red-Jacket — Part- 
ing address  of  Washington — Red-Jacket  and  tlie  military  clothes — Close 
of  the  conferences — Continuance  of  the  war  with  the  Indians  of  tho 
north-west — The  Senecas  to  send  a  deputation  of  their  chiifs  upon  a  mes- 
sage of  peace — Irritation  of  the  Six  Nations — Interference  of  tlie  Ilrili.^h 
— The  Fish-Carrier — The  deputation  returns — Their  missicin  unsuccess- 
ful— Close  of  th(;  Indian  war,  ..... 

CHAPTER  V. 


66 


Farther  difficulties  with  the  Six  Nations,  occasioned  by  Pennsylvania — 
Great  Council  at  Cannndaigua — Troubles  of  tho  Oneidas — Desiri|iii(in  of 
the  Gathering — Opening  of  the  Grand  Council — Ceremonies  of  condole- 
ment — Visit  of  Jemima  Wilkinson — Speeches  in  Council — Jcniinia  speaks 
— Speech  of  the  women  to  Colonel  Pickering — Presence  of  a  snjiposed  s])y 
—  His  dismissal — Correspondence  concerning  him — News  of  W'nyne's  vic- 
tory— lis  eiVect  upon  tho  Indians — Difliculties  and  jealonsiis  among  tho 
Indians  themselves — Colonel  Pickering  determines  to  bring  them  ti  a  de- 
cision— Indians  appeal  to  the  Quakers — Speech  of  Red-Jacket  to  them, 
nud  also  to  Colonel  Pickering  in  Council — Farther  proceedings — Difficul- 
ties with  Cornplanter — Conclusion  of  tho  Treaty — Dissolution  of  the 
Council — Excellent  conduct  of  the  Quakers,  .  .  .         109 

CHAPTER  Vr. 

Immediate  results  of  tho  treaty — General  Indian  pacification — Death  of 
General  Cliapin — Red-Jacket's  speech  of  condolence — The  treaty  of 
Big  Tree,  held  between  the  Indians  and  Thomas  Morns,  for  Robert  Mor- 
ris and  the  Holland  Land  Company — Conduct  of  Red-.Iacket — The 
women  and  warriors — Difiiculties  with  regard  to  the  reservniions — Tho 
White  Woman — Indian  ignoranci;  of  finance,  and  of  munbers — Red 
Jacket's  hypocrisy  and  duplicity — Conclusion  of  thu  treaty — Visit  of 
Red-Jacket  to  Connecticut,  .  .  .  .  .  144 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Conspiracy  of  Complnntcr  against  Rod-Jacket— Witchcraft — Cornplanter 
defeated  by  Red-Jacket's  eloquence — Farther  outrages  iijion  tho  Indians 
— Mission  of  Red-Jacket  and  others  f)  the  seat  of  Government — Sjieech 
of  Red-Jai'ket  to  tho  Secretary  of  War — Murder  of  a  white  man  h\  an 
Indian — Meeting  incunsoi|uence  at  Caiiundaigua — Speich  of  Red-Jacket 
—His  conspiracy  against  Brant — Deposition  of  tlio  latter — His  ultimate 
triumph  and  rcstoratiun,     .....  16& 


indition 
I  by  the 

Iross  to 

i-<'i>ly— 

I  ho  i  Ill- 
Co  Ion  el 
-Roply 
— I'art- 
— Close 
of  tlu! 
1  ;i  iiiPS- 
:  Uritinh 
success- 


66 


Ivania — 
iption  of 
coiulolc- 
liisjioaks 
losed  spy 
kiie's  vic- 
iionjr  the 

I  ti  a  de- 
to  them, 
l-Dirticul- 

II  (if  thi! 


lOD 


)path  of 
•aty  of 
It  Mor- 

Lt— The 
s— The 
3— Red 

-Visit  of 


144 


iplantor 
liiilians 
— S]ii'i'rl» 
II  hy  an 
i-J  uckct 
ultimate 


CONTENTS. 
CHAPTER  Vlir. 


IX 


Paganism  of  Red-Jacket — Failure  of  plans  for  Indian  civilization — Hosti- 
lity of  Red-Jacket  to  Christianity — Mission  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cram — 
Cjuncil  to  meet  him — Speech  of  Mr.  Cram — Red-Jacket's  speech  in 
reply — Rejection  of  the  missionary — Errors  of  missionaries — Difficulty 
of  making  themselves  understood — Another  attempt  to  purchase  the  re- 
maining lands  of  the  Senecas — Speech  of  Red-Jucket  to  Mr.  Richardson 
— Causes  of  their  hostility  to  the  missionaries — Another  speech  of  Red- 
Jacket — Drunkenness  among  tho  Indians — Tradition  of  their  first  taste  of 
the  tire-waters — Reflections,  .  -  .  .  ,  184 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Movements  of  Tecumseh  and  the  Prophet,  Klskawatwa,  among  the  western 
nations — Tho  young  Senecas  eager  to  join  them — The  government  of  the 
United  States  admonished  by  Red-Jacket — His  speech  to  the  Secretary 
of  War — Battle  of  Tippecanoe — Conduct  of  the  Propiiet — ^Varof  1812 
with  England — Council  of  the  Six  Nations  at  Buffalo — Speech  of  (Jian- 
ger,  the  agent — Rod-Jacket's  reply — Senecas  declare  themselves  neutral — 
Active  hostilities — The  Senecasdeclare  war — General  Alexander  Smyth — 
General  Lewis  invites  the  Senecas  to  join  liini — Their  arrival  at  Fort 
Niagara — Murder  of  Lieutenant  Eldridge — Invasion  of  Black  Rock  by 
the  enemy  under  Colonel  Bishop — Repulsed  by  (ieneral  Porter's  volun- 
teers and  Indians — Death  of  Colonel  Bishop — Smart  affair  of  the  Indians 


and  volunteers  near  Fort  George, 


215 


165 


CHAPTER  X. 

Disastrous  closo  of  the  Niagara  campaign  in  1813 — Military  operations  of 
the  following  yrai — Rod-Jaeket  romes  the  Indi;ins  upon  the  war-path — 
Invasion  of  Canada  by  (ieneral  Brown — The  field  of  Chippewa  de- 
scribed—Capture of  Fort  Erie — March  to  Chippewa — The  Battle — Its 
effects — Remark?  thereon — Conduct  of  the  Indians — Subserpient  opera- 
tions on  that  frontier — The  Indians  of  both  aiinios,  on  a  proposition  from 
Red-Jacket,  mutually  withdraw  from  the  service — Conduct  and  views  of 
the  Indians  in  war — Red-Jacket  in  liiUtle — Captain  Worth  and  Furmcr's- 
Brother — Startling  incident  at  Bull'alo — Colonel  Worth's  opinion  of  Red- 
Jacket,        251 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Another  land  company — The  Senecas  begin  to  look  for  n  new  homo  at  tiio 
West — Council  ut  Sandusky — An  incident  of  travel — Red-Jacket's  s|)cech 
ot  the  council — Spe>;clics  of  others  in  reply — Nothiiia  effected — Atieiiipted 
treaty  between  the  Ogden  Lund  Coiii|iany  and  tlu-  Seneciia,  at  Buifalo,  in 
l!ill),  Moiri<  S.  Miller,  Coininissioner — 0|"iiiiig  of  the  council — .Speech 
of  Rod-Jacket — Treaty  bioken  olV  without  success — Cn|ituin  Pollard's 
apology  fur  tho  rudgnuss  of  Iletl-Jucket — Subsuqueut  Jiegoliations,  ,  281 

B 


I 


I 


Vi 


CONTENTS. 


v,.^- 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Witchcraft — The  case  of  Tommy-Jemmy  indicted  for  murder — Rod-Jacket 
takes  port  in  the  trial — His  attention  to  the  go%ernmont  of  his  people — 
Missionary  enterprise  amonj  the  Se:iecus — Red-Jacket's  opposition  and 
liatred  of  Cln'istianity — His  letter  to  (.';iptain  I'aiisli,  appealing  to  fiovwr- 
nor  Clinton  against  the  black-coats — Legislative  action,  un w  ittingly ,  against 
the  missionaiies — Rev.  i\Ir.  Harris  and  his  labors — Tlicir  success — Con- 
version of  0-iiui-ye-sou,  or  Ciiptaiti  Strong — The  schools — Mr.  Harris 
driven  away  under  the  law — CoiiJiict  of  the  white  pagans — Ajiplicatioii 
to  the  legislature  in  behalf  of  the  missionaries — Letter  of  Red-Jacket  to 
Governor  Clinton — The  missicnaries  and  teachers  sustained — Beneficent 
labors  of  the  Quaker:^ — Remarkable  interview  between  Red-Jacket  and 
Rev.  Dr.  Bn-ckenridse,  as  di'lailed  In  a  letter  t'roni  the  lattei- — Outlines 
of  another  anti-clnistian  sjieech — liis  eloijuince,  ....  317 


I 


CHAPTER  XIIL 

Reil-Jacket's  domestic  relations — Loss  of  his  ihildron  by  consumption — 
His  second  wife  becomes  a  Christian — Separation  from  her,  and  union 
with  another — Returns  to  his  lawful  wife — Is  received  and  lives  in  har- 
mony— Red-Jacket  and  Latiiyette — Red-Jacket  and  the  French  Count — 
Scoriilid  l)eliaviour  to  a  visitor  iVoio  Albany— Anecdotes  (jf  Red-.Iacket  and 
Colonel  I'ickering — His  vanily — Launch  of  a  sloo])  bearing  his  name — 
His  tact — Anecdote  ef  a  diinier  party — Red-Jacket  at  a  trial  at  liatavia— 
His  notions  of  law,  and  his  luniior — Atiecdotoof  Red-.Iackct  and  Captain 
Jones — Hed-.facket  and  the  execution  of  the  Thayeis — Anecdote  of  Hot- 
Bread — Opinion  of  Thomas  Morris  of  his  character  and  (uatory — Paint- 
ings of  Red-Jacket — His  love  of  the  woods,  .....   354 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Disquietude  of  Red-Jacket's  latter  days — Successes  of  the  missionaries — 
DisalVection  of  his  tribe — Korniiilly  deposed — His  chagrin  and  jouiney  to 
Washington — Intervii'W  with  Colonel  M'Kenney — Returns  to  the  reserva- 
tion, i)repared  to  make  concessions — Housi's  himself  to  energetic  action 
— A  great  council — Another  speech — His  restoration  to  his  former  rank — 
Sinks  into  mental  imbecility — Visits  U'ashington,  New-Y(U'k,  Boston  and 
Albany — Exhibits  himself  at  the  niu-eun]s — Speech  at  Albany,  contrast- 
ing the  characters  of  Washington  and  .Tacksou — His  consciousness  of 
ap[)roaching  death,  and  preparations  therefor — Rolentings  toward  tho 
missionary — the  last  council  convoked  by  Red-Jacket  fiu- purposes  of  con- 
ciliation—  Last  sii'kni'ss,  deatli  and  funeral — Conduct  of  the  neighboring 
inlidels — Speculations  and  rellectiona  on  the  fate  of  the  Indians — Lord 
Erskine — Opinions  of  Dr.  Ramsay  and  (Jeneial  Benjamin  Lincoln — Con- 
clusion of  Red-Jacket — Tablet  to  his  memory,  ....         378 

FARMER'S-BROTHER 409 

CORN  PLANTER, 423 

HENRY  O'BAIL, 456 

STORY  OF  BLACK-CHIEF'S  DAUGHTER,       ....  458 

APPENDIX 463 


V': 


-Rod-Jacket 
lis  people — 
iposition  and 
ng  to  Gover- 
iiig'y,  against 
ccess — Con- 
-Mr.  Ilairis 
-A]iplication 
'd-.Iiickct  to 
— BcnciiceiU 
-Jacket  and 
'I — Outlines 

.  317 


sumption — 
,  and  union 
lives  in  liar- 
icli  Count — 
l-Jacket  and 
liis  name — 
It  Batavia — 
md  Captain 
loto  of  IJot- 
oiy — Paint- 


SA-GO-YE-WAT-HA, 


OR 


RED-JACKET. 


354 


jsionavii's — 
d jouiney  to 
tlic  reservu- 
getic  action 
miT  rank — 
Boston  and 
y,  contrast- 
iousncss  of 
toward  the 
ISPS  of  con- 
leighlioring 
ions — Lord 
coin — Con- 


378 
40i) 
423 
450 
458 
4G3 


^ 


km 

11 


II 


II* 


LIFE  AND  TIMES  OF  RED-JACKET. 


CHAPTER  I. 


Subject  of  the  biography — His  name — Preliminnn'  glimpses  of  his  charac- 
ter— His  nation — Incidental  discussion  concerning  the  Iroquois,  or  Five  Na- 
tions— Tradition  of  the  origin  of  the  Senecas— Hill  of  Gcnundewah — Roman- 
tic story— The  Hurons — History  of  tlio  Five  Nations — Chapter  closes  in 
doubt. 

"  I  AM  an  orator! — I  was  born  an  orator!" — ^were  the 
prompt  exclamations  of  the  subject  of  the  present  memoir, 
in  reply  to  an  inquiiy,  by  an  obtrusive  white  man,  re- 
specting Ills  deeds  in  arms.  The  evasion  was  alike  spi- 
rited, (juick-witted,  and  adroit.  No  man,  either  savage 
or  civilized,  probably,  was  ever  more  conscious  of  the 
strong  and  the  weak  points  of  his  own  character  than  the 
celebrated  Seneca  chief,  Sa-go-ye-wat-ha,  or  "  He- 
KEEPS-THEM-AWAKE," — l)etter  kuowu  to  t.ic  public  un- 
der the  less  imposing  name  of  Red-Jacket.*  His  ori- 
ginal Indian  name  was  0-te-ti-ani — in  English — Al- 

*  The  Indian  name  of  Red-Jacket,  here  given  in  the  text,  has  b(!cn  variously 
spelt,  by  difibrent  authors.  I  have  adopted  the  orthography  of  an  old  IMS.  re- 
cord of  the  Seneca  chiefs,  invited  by  Colonel  Timothy  l*icl\cring  to  attend  a 
council  in  Philadelphia,  in  1792.  The  usual  translation  of  the  name,  Sa-go-ye- 
wat-ha,  has  been,  llic  Keeper  Awake.  It  was  so  rendered  by  I)e  Witt  Clinton,  in 
his  celebrated  Discourse  before  tho  New-York  Historical  Society,  in  1811.  But 
that  triiiislation  is  erroneous,  as  The  Kcper  Awake  docs  not  convey  the  idea  in- 
tended. The  ancient  manuscript  refcrrcd  to  gives  the  true  meaning,  as  adopted 
in  tho  text — Hc-keeps-them-awakc. 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


r. 


■ 


WAYS  Ready.  The  other  name  was  conferred  upon 
him,  in  after  years,  on  his  election  to  the  dignity  of  a 
Sachem. 

That  he  was  an  orator,  in  the  most  exalted  sense  of 
the  term,  of  great  and  commanding  power,  is  the  univer- 
sal testimony  of  all  who  enjoyed  opportunities  of  forming 
a  just  opinion  upon  the  subject.  And  no  other  man  was 
more  conscious  of  the  fact  than  himself.  That  he  was  a 
warrior  he  did  not  positively  deny  to  his  unwelcome  cate- 
chist,  while  he  studiously  avoided  its  acknowledgment. 

It  is  well  for  his  veracity  that  he  did  not,  since  nothing 
is  more  certain  than  that  the  impartial  testimony  of  his- 
tory would  have  been  invoked  in  vain  to  sustain  the  asser- 
tion. Yet,  notwithstanding  the  absence  of  that  physical 
quality,  the  lack  of  which  is  so  rare  among  a  people  liv- 
ing in  the  hunter  state,  and  the  possession  of  which  is  con- 
sidered so  indispensable  among  all  barbarians,  few  men 
have  arrived  at  a  greater  degree  of  consideration  among 
his  own  people,  or  exerted  a  n?ore  commanding  influence, 
than  Red-Jacket.  He  A^.t':  uptju  the  war-path  during 
borii  conflicts  between  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain.  In  the  former, — the  war  of  the  revolution, — 
he  served,  with  his  nation,  the  cause  of  the  crown.  In 
the  war  of  1812-1815, — the  Seuecas  having  changed 
their  quasi  allegiance, — he  served  under  the  colors  of  the 
United  States.  But  in  neither  contest  did  he  win  for  him- 
self the  right  to  wear  the  eagle-plume.  In  the  former 
he  was  openly  charged  by  his  brother  chiefs  with 
cowardice  and  treachery ;  while  in  the  latter  the  im- 
pression made  upon  the  mind  of   the  General,  under 


r 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


•red  Upon 
nity  of  a 

1  sense  of 
he  univer- 
of  forming 
•  man  was 
t  he  was  a 
:ome  cate- 
:Igment. 
cc  nothing 
my  of  his- 
i  the  asser- 
it  physical 
people  liv- 
lich  is  con- 
;,  few  men 
ion  among 
:  infliienee, 
itli  (luring 

id    Great 

olution, — 
rown.     In 
changed 

)rs  of  the 
1  i(ir  him- 
le  former 

liefs  with 
the  im- 

ral,  under 


f 


whose  immediate  eye  he  served,  was  by  no  means  favor- 
able in  regard  to  his  courage.*  His  entire  character 
formed  a  bundle  of  contradictions.  If  he  lacked  firm- 
ness of  nerves,  he  nevertheless  possessed  unbending 
firmness  of  purpose,  and  great  moral  courage.  His  in- 
tellectual powers  were  uucjuestionably  of  a  very  high 
order.  He  was  a  statesman  of  sagacit}',  and  an  orator 
of  even  surpassing  eloquence  ;  yet  he  was  capal)le  of  de- 
scending to  the  practice  of  the  lowest  cunning  of  the 
demagogue.  But  he  was  still  a  patriot.  He  loved  liis 
nation,  and  his  race  ; — and  if,  in  the  eyes  of  his  people, 
the  (Icticiencics  of  his  character  were  not  lost  in  the  blaze 
of  his  genius,  they  \vere  certainly  more  than  counter- 
balanced by  the  admiration  with  which  was  contemplated 
the  greatness  of  his  mind. 

The  Seneca  Nation,  whence  Sa-go-ye-wat-ha  sprang, 
and  whose  principal  chief  he  was  for  many  years,  was, 
even  at  the  time  of  the  discovery  by  the  Europeans,  by 
far  the  most  powerful  of  the  A(][uanuschioni,  or  "  United 
People,"  known  originally  as  the  Five  Nations,  and  aiter- 
ward  as  tlie  .Six,  by  the  addition  of  the  Tuscaroi^s  to 
tlie  confederacy,  about  the  year  1712.  The  reaso  i  of 
this  addition  to  the  number  of  their  commuhities  has 
been  variously  given.  It  is  well  known  that  the  Five 
Nations  carried  their  arms  as  far  south  as  the  country  of 
the  Clierokees,  with  whom  they  waged  a  bloody  war, 
even  within  the  last  century.t     The  Tuscaroras  were 

*  Gencrnl  I'oter  B.  Porter,  lato  Secretary  of  War,  whose  opinion  will  be 
quoted  hereafter. 

t  A  fierce  battle,  continuing  two  days,  was  fought  between  the  Cherokees, 
Catawbas,  and  their  associates,  and  the  waniora  of  the  Six  Nations,  at  the 


1 


I 


4  LIFE  AND  TIMES 

natives  of  a  territory  now  forming  the  state  of  North 
Carolina.  Bancroft  speaks  of  tliem  as  "  kindred  with 
the  Five  Nations,"  and  refers  io  sevenil  villiiges  in  that 
region,  of  the  Huron-Iroqnois,  or  W3-andot  liiniily.  Ac- 
cording to  some  nnthorities,  the  Tuscaroras,  having 
formed  a  deep  iind  generiil  conspiracy  to  cat  off"  the 
whites,  were  signally  defeated,  and  driven  from  their 
country,  under  which  circumstances  they  were  adopted 
as  a  Sixth  Nation  by  the  Iroquois.*  It  has  been  asserted 
by  others  that  they  were  conquered  by  the  Iro(juois,  and 
by  them  removed  to  iheir  own  countiy,  where  they  were 
planted  down,  and  reckoned  as  :.n  additional  nation,  but 
only  U[)on  the  condition  that,  hke  the  Delawares,  they 
were  to  be  ranked  as  wom^xi,  and  inhibited  the  use  of 
arms  in  wiir.  This  is  n  most  inilikely  tale  of  their  re- 
moval,— since  they  "  were  the  most  powerful  tribe  in 
North  Carolina,"  occupying,  in  1708,  fifteen  towns  in  the 
upper  country,  on  the  Neuse  and  the  Tar,  and  numbering 
twelve  hundred  warriors,  as  brave  as  the  Mohawks.t 
Other  authors  have  assigned  a  kindlier  motive  for  the 
transplantation,  viz  :  the  discover}',  by  the  Five  Nations, 
of  the  marked  similarity  of  the  Tuscarora  language  to 
their  own — there  being  no  labials  in  either.  Hence  they 
concluded  that  the  latter  either  were,  or  of  right  ought  to 

junctiiin  of  tlu-  Cunibciland  and  Rod  Rivors,  in  Kentucky,  ncnr  the  prosont  lino 
between  tlii;  states  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee,  in  the  year  1731.  TIk?  leader  of 
thfi  Six  Nations  on  tlmt  occasion  was  Hiokatoo,  a  celebrated  Seneca  chief,  who 
died  in  1811,  at  the  great  age  of  103.  Tlio  slaughter  was  great  on  both  sides, 
but  Hiokatoo  was  victorious. 

*  Smith's  History  of  New-York,  sanctioned  by  the  Historical  Discoursi  of  Dc 
Witt  Clinton. 

t  Bancroft's  United  States,  vol.  iii.  p.  245. 


'i 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


of  North 
Ircd  with 
;cs  in  that 
lily.     Ac- 
s,  having 
It  off'  the 
rem  their 
e  adopted 
n  asserted 
quois,  and 
tlicy  were 
lation,  but 
ares,  they 
the  use  of 
f  their  re- 
il  tribe  in 
wns  in  the 
umibering 
lohtiwks.t 
ve  for  the 
c  Nations, 
mguage  to 
[once  they 
It  ought  to 

le  prcsnnt  line 

Th(!  loadnv  of 

loca  chief,  who 

on  hoth  sides, 

iscoursi  of  Dc 


have  been,  members  of  their  own  great  family.  Hence, 
also,  probably,  Bancroft  speaks  of  llio  Mohawks  as  their 
"  brothers." 

The  Senecas  were  llic  fifth  nation  of  the  originrd  con- 
federacy— their  duty  being  to  keep  the  western  door  of 
"  the  long  house,"  as  the  territory  occupied  by  their 
princii)id  range  of  towns  was  called.  The  Mohawks 
guarded  the  eiislern  door,  at  Schagh-nack-ta-da.*  When- 
ever, at  either  door  of  "  the  long  house,"  other  nations,  or 
their  ambassadors,  knocked  u])on  business,  the  first  duty  of 
the  nation  keeping  the  door  was  to  ascertain  its  character 
and  iinportance.  If  not  of  great  moment,  the  council  of  the 
separate  nation  attended  to  it.  But  whenever  the  sub- 
ject matter  presented  from  without  was  of  interest  to 
the  whole  confederacy,  or  of  sufficient  weight  to  recjuire 
the  consideration  of  the  united  council,  the  messengers 
charged  with  it  were  sent  forward  to  the  Onondaga.  Val- 
ley, where  the  Grand  Council  fire  was  kindled,  and  it  was 
discussed  by  the  National  Congress.  The  Mohawk 
nation  was  the  first  in  rank  of  the  confederacy,  and  to  it 
appertained  the  office  of  principal  war-chief.  To  the 
Onondagas,  in  like  manner, — the  nation  whose  peculiar 
province  it  was  to  guard  the  council  fire, — appertained 
the  office  of  principal  civil  chief,  or  Chief  Sachem.  Still, 
numerically  considered,  for  a  long  time  past,  and  per- 

*  Tho  prosoiit  site  of  Albany.  The  moaniii;,'  of  the  lerni,  litmally,  is — "  Be- 
yond-the-l'iiic-l'iains."  Those  plains  are  those  l)ct\veeti  Si-honoctady  and 
Albany — separating  the  Mohawk  valley  from  that  of  the  Hudson.  By  some  mis- 
take, tho  name  was  oironeously  bestowed  by  the  whites  upon  the  Indian  town 
of  Con-nngh-haric-g»gk-haric,  literally  A-grnat-rmdtUudc-collectvd-loguthcr. 
Standing  at  their  castles,  and  looking  toward  the  east,  Schagk-nack-ta-da,  (now 
Albany,)  was  Beyond-the-l'ine-Plains  to  the  Mohawks. 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


, 


m 


*,  ^  J 


liaps  alvvnys,  the  Senccas  were  by  far  the  most  power- 
ful of  the  confi!(lcriicy. 

The  (questions  as  lo  the  origin  of  the  Seneca  Indians, 
the  entire  confederacy  to  which  they  belonged,  and  the 
length  of  time  they  had  been  in  the  occupancy  of  "the 
long  liouse,"  when  first  visited  by  the  white  man,  are  all 
involved  in  darkness,  too  deep,  proI)ably,  for  human 
penetration.  Accortling  to  the  early  French  historians 
and  tourists  of  America, — among  whom  Charlevoix  is 
probably  tlie  best  authority, — the  Iroquois  were  occupying 
the  countrv  along  the  St.  Lawrence,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Hoclielaga,  at  the  time  of  the  discovery  of  Canada  by 
Jacques  Cartier.  "  When  Cartier  went  to  Hochelaga, 
now  IMontreal,  in  l-'SGO,  he  discovered  a  town  of  the  Iro- 
quois, or  Hurons,  containing  about  fifty  huts."*  Cartier 
lauded  about  six  miles  from  the  town,  to  which  the  way 
was  well  beaten  and  frequented.  "  It  was  situated  in 
the  midst  of  large  fields  of  Indian  corn,  and  from  the 
description,  it  must  even  then  have  been  a  considerable 
place,  and  the  metropolis  of  the  neighboring  countrj\  It 
was  encompassed  by  palisades,  or  probably  a  picket 
fence  in  three  rows,  one  within  tlie  other,  well  secured 
and  put  together.  A  single  entrance  was  secured  with 
piles  and  stakes  ;  and  every  precaution  adopted  against 
sudden  attack  or  siege.  The  town  consisted  of  about 
fifty  houses,  each  fifty  feet  in  length  by  fourteen  in 
breadth,  built  of  wood  and  covered  with  bark,  '  well  and 
cunningly  joined  together.'  Each  house  contained 
small  chambers,  built  round  an  open  court  in  the  centre, 

*  Clinton's  Historical  Discourse. 


i 


I 


I 


^^, 


OF  IIF.U-.FACKET. 


3t  powcr- 

L  Indians, 

.,  and  the 

■  of  " the 

n,  are  all 

r  human 

^listorians 

levoix  is 

ccupying 

hborhood 

ana da  by 

Dchclaga, 

:'  the  Iro- 

C  artier 

the  way 

:uated  in 

from  the 

lerable 

iitry.     It 

jiicket 

secured 

■ed  with 

against 

about 

•teen  in 

rell  and 

ntained 

centre, 


"■k 


■'4 


in  which  the  fire  was  kindled."*     The  inlinbitant?,  were 
devoted  to  liiisli.-iudry  :ind  lishing,  and  the  lands  of  the 
island  were  well  v,'iilrivatrd  to  the  base  of  the  moiuitiiin, 
three  miles   from  the  present  city  of  INIontreal.t     In  a 
word,  according  to  the  history  of  Cartier's  voyage,  the 
Indians  of  Hoclifhga.  were  more  ihiin  usually  civilized, 
for  barbarians,  and  greatly  in  advance  of  the  [nKpiois  a 
century  aftenvard.     It  has  also  been  hehl  tliiit  the  war 
in  which  the  Inxpiois  were  engaged  with  the  Adiron-- 
dacks,  a  powerful  division  of  the   Hurons, — now  gene- 
rally known  by  the  name  of  Wyandots, — at  the  time 
when  Champlain  ascended  the  Ht.  Lawrence,  in  IGOG, 
was  the  snme  in  wliich  they  conquered  the  territory  oi 
the  Mohfiwk  Valley,  and  that  lying  south  of  Tjidvc  Onta- 
rio, in  the  possession  of  wliich  they  were  found  l)y  the 
Dutch  and  English.     Such  is,  moreover,  the  received 
opinion  of  various  writers,  European  and  American,  who 
have  glanced  su})erficially  at  this  question. 

But  this  supposition,  though  entertained  by  Governor 
Golden,  and  afterward  by  Governor  Clinton,  is  beyond 
doubt  erroneous.  At  the  time  of  Cartier's  discovery 
the  five  Huron  nations  occupied  the  Island  of  Orleans, 
below  Quebec,  and  the  country  of  the  St.  Lnwrence  and 
the  Ottawa.  The  Adirondacks,  the  most  powerful  clan 
of  that  people,  then  lived  chiefly  upon  the  Ottiiw:i  ;  and 
it  is  more  than  probable  that  those  were  the  occupants  of 
Hochelaga.  The  town  at  Hochelnga,  described  by  Car- 
tier,  had  dwmdled  into  insignificance  at  the  time  of 
Champlain's  visit,  having  probably  been  destroyed  by 


Hawkins's  History  of  Quebec,  pp.  50,  51. 


t  Idem. 


*  t 
I"  I 

If . 


■3 


8 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


liil 


i; 


the  Iroquois — a  body  of  whom  were  met  by  Champlain, 
while  voyaging  upon  the  lake  since  bearing  his  name, 
on  their  way  against  the  Hurons,  with  hostile  intent. 
Champlain  was  .accompanied  during  this  voyage  by  a 
war  party  of  the  latter,  with  whom  he  fought  in  alliance 
against  the  Iroquois,  who  were  struck  with  amazement 
at  the  reports  and  the  execution  of  the  fire-arms  used 
against  them, — engines  of  death  which  they  had  never 
seen  before, — and  deteated,  of  course. 

But.  in  addition  to  these  circumstances,  all  the  prin- 
cipal towns  and  cantons  of  the  Five  Nations  gave  evi- 
dence, at  the  period  of  the  discovery,  of  a  much  longer 
occupancy  of  the  territory  in  question  than  most  authors 
have  conceded  ;  while  according  to  their  own  traditions, 
affording  yet  better  authority,  they  had  been  in  the  actual 
possession  of  that  fair  region  of  country  lor  a  length  of 
time  whereof  the  memory  of  man  runneth  not  to  the 
contrary.*  It  is  true  that  there  is  a  dim  and  shadowy 
tradition  among  some  of  the  people  of  the  Five  Nations, 
that  they  originally  came  from  the  north  ;  but  they  date 
the  period  of  their  migration  a  long  number  of  centuries 
back.  Cusick,  the  Tuscarora  author, — and  the  only 
Indian  who  has  written  upon  that  subj(>ct, — d.ates  the 
event  more  than  twenty-five  hundred  years  before  the 
discovery  by  Columlnis, — as  correct,  probably,  as  the 
Chinese  chronology.t  The  tradition  of  the  Senccas  is, 
that  the  original  people  of  their  nation  broke  forth  from 
the  earth,  Irom  the  crest  of  a  mountain  at  the  head  of 

*  Chiirlevoix ;  Colden's  Six  Nations;  Moultoii's  Ncw-Yoik. 
t  This  truct  of  Cusick's  is  a  wrotchodly  puorilo  porformance. 


/hamplain, 
his  name, 
Lile  intents 
y^age  by  a 
in  alliance 
.mazement 
arms  used 
had  never 

the  prin- 

gave  evi- 

uch  longer 

:)st  nuthors 

traditions, 

:  the  actual 

I  length  of 

not  to  the 

shadowy 

e  Ncitions, 

ihey  date 

centuries 

the   only 

■dates  the 

jt'lore  the 

y,  ns  the 

u(^C!i3  is, 

111'  from 

licad  of 


OF  RED-JACKET.  9 

Canandaigua  Lake.  The  mountain  which  gave  them 
birth  is  called  "  Ge-nun-de-wah-gauh,"  or  the  Great 
Hill.  Hence  the  Senecas  are  called  the  Great  Hill 
People,  which  was  their  original  title.  The  base  of  the 
Genundewah  mountain,  as  it  is  usually  called,  they  be- 
Heve  to  have  been  encircled,  when  their  nation  was  in 
its  infancy,  by  a  huge  serpent, — so  vast  in  his  proportions 
that  he  was  enabled  to  coil  himself  entirely  around  the 
mountain.  The  head  and  tail  of  the  monster  united 
at  the  gateway  of  tlie  path  leading  to  anil  from  the 
steep;  and  few  who  attemntcd  either  ingress  or  egress 
escaped  his  voracious  j;iws.  Thus  environed,  the  people 
remained  a  long  time,  as  it  were,  in  a  state  of  siege, — 
the  serpent  rendering  their  condition  almost  insupporta- 
ble, not  only  by  his  war  upon  their  lives,  but  by  reason 
of  his  foetid  and  poisonous  breath.  At  length,  their 
sufferings  becoming  severe  beyond  longer  endurance, 
the  Indians  determined  to  mak<3  a  sally.  Arming  them- 
selves, therefore,  with  such  weapons  as  ihe}^  had  at 
hand,  they  descended  the  hill,  but  in  att<'m[)ting  to 
escape  the  gate,  were  all  seized  and  swfdlowed  by  the 
serpent,  with  the  exception  of  two  children,  who  by 
some  means  overleaped  tiiis  trurful  line  of  circumvalla- 
tion,  and  avoided  the  terrible  fate  of  the  Ixxly  of  their 
infant  tribe.  Having  escaped,  these  children  were  re- 
served for  a  yet  higher  destiny.  They  were  informed, 
by  an  oracle,  of  means  by  which  they  might  rid  the 
world  of  the  great  monster  so  inimical  to  their  race. 
They  were  directed  to  form  a  bow  of  a  particular  kind 
of  willow,  and  an  arrow  of  the  same,  the  barb  of  which 

2 


i  i- 


M 


111 


if 


10 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


was  to  be  dipped  in  poison,  and  shot  in  a  direction  that 
would  allow  it  to  penetrate  the  skin  beneath  the  scales. 
The  children  obej'ed  the  divine  injunction,  and  the  result 
was  the  serpent's  death.  No  sooner  had  the  arrow  penetra- 
ted the  skin  than  he  was  thrown  into  violent  convulsions. 
Uncoiling  himself  from  around  the  mountain,  and  writh- 
ing into  the  most  frightful  convolutions,  in  his  agony 
he  threw  up  the  heads  of  the  people  he  had  devoured, 
which  rolled  down  the  steep  into  the  lake.  With  agoni- 
zing throes  the  serpent  himself  then  rolled  into  the  lake, 
sweeping  down  the  timber  in  his  course.  The  heads  of 
the  Indians,  that  had  been  disgorged,  were  petrified  by 
the  transparent  waters,  and  arc  to  be  seen  at  the  bottom 
of  the  lake,  in  the  shape  of  large  round  stones,  to  this  day. 
From  the  two  orphans,  thus  preserved,  and  who  thus 
vancpiished  their  terrii)le  enemy,  sprang  the  new  race  of 
Senecas.  The  tradition  is  equally  absurd  and  puerile ; 
but  not  more  so  than  are  the  legends  of  the  aboriginals  of 
other  nations,  or  even  of  the  so-called  civilized  nations 
of  India  and  China.  But  it  is  cited  to  show  that  the 
Senecas  themselves  have  no  idea  of  a  modern  occupancy 
of  their  territory.  And  that  they  were  sincere  in  enter- 
taining the  tradition,  may  be  allowed  from  the  circum- 
stance tliat  the  Clenundewah  has  been  held  sacred,  as 
being  the  place  of  their  birth.  For  a  long  time  past,  and 
down  to  a  recent  period,  it  was  the  place  of  holding  their 
councils.  It  was  also  the  hallowed  place  of  their  religious 
services,  some  of  which  were  instituted  in  commemo- 
ration of  the  death  of  the  serpent,  which  had  thus  threat- 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


11 


ction  that 
he  scales, 
the  result 
kV  penetra- 
invulsions. 
md  writh- 
his  agony 
devoured, 
/^ith  agoni- 
3  the  lake, 
e  heads  of 
:)trified  by 
the  bottom 
;o  this  day. 
who  thus 
evv  race  of 
id  puerile ; 
)riiiinals  of 
cd  nations 

that  the 
)ccupancy 

in  enter- 
ic circum- 
sacred,  as 

])ast,  and 
ding  tlieir 

ndigious 
onnnemo- 
lus  thrcat- 


■^ 


ened  the  extermination  of  their  race.*  This  legend  is 
less  poetical,  perhaps,  but  it  is  not  more  absurd,  than  the 
classic  fable  of  the  Hydra  of  Lerna,  or  the  monster 
which,  according  to  iElian,  was  the  terror  of  India  in  the 
time  of  Alexander.  The  monster  of  Genundewah  did 
not  discharge  volumes  of  flame  and  smoke  from  his 
mouth,  like  another  Typhon ;  but  the  effluvium  of  his 
breath  was  even  more  destructive.  The  credulity  of  the 
wild  Senecas  was  no  greater  than  that  of  the  polished 
Greeks ;  and  they  did  not  fall  into  the  absurdity  of  pay- 
ine:  divine  honors  to  their  monster,  as  the  oriental  Indians 
did  the  dragon-cotemporary  of  Alexander. 

Connected  with  this  sacred  mount  of  Genundewah, 
and  a  wild  precipice  in  its  vicinity,  which  hang.s  beetUng 
over  the  silver  Canandaigua  lake,  ("died  the  "  Lover's 
Leap,"  is  an  interesting  story  of  love  to  distraction,  and 
courage  fo  death,  on  the  part  of  a  young  Indian  b(!auty, 
which  inoy  perhaps  warrant  a  digression  for  its  recital — 
more  especitdly  as  the  American  aboriginals  have  gene- 
rally been  accounted,  comparatively,  strangers  to  la  belle 
passiofi.  The  legend  is  of  a  later  day  ihan  lli;it  of  the 
serpent,  but,  nevertheless,  descends  from  remote  tradi- 
tion. During  tlu^  wars  of  the  iSenecas  and  ihc  Algon- 
quins  of  the  north,  a  chief  of  the  latter  was  captured  and 
carried  tfi  Genundewah,  whereon  a  fortificaiioii,  consist- 

*  This  tradition  wiis  rclnti'd  to  tlio  author,  in  NovoniLpr,  1838,  by  a  Soncca 
chief,  culled  The  Blacksmith,  a  rcliitivc  of  Ri'd-.Inckct,  and  to  whom  dcsct-ndeJ 
tho  niodnl  given  to  the  latter  by  General  Washington.  It  is  nlao  s'ven,  in  gub" 
stance,  by  Mr.  Seaver,  nntlior  of  tho  Life  of  Mnry  .leniisdn.  Mr.  Scavcr  re- 
ceived it  from  the  hilo  Co]>tain  Horatio  Jones,  for  several  years  a  prisoner  among 
the  Senecaa,  and  long  a  govornmcnt  agent  and  interjirctcr  among  them. 


12 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


ing  of  a  square  without  bastions,  and  surrounded  by 
palisades,  was  situated.  The  captive,  though  young  in 
years,  was  famed  for  his  prowess  in  the  forest  conflict, 
and  nature  had  been  bountiful  to  his  person  in  those  gifts 
of  strength  and  symmetry  which  waken  savage  admira- 
tion. After  a  short  debate,  he  was  condemned  to  die  on 
the  following  day,  by  the  slow  torture  of  impalement. 
While  he  was  lying  in  die  "  cabin  of  death,"  a  lodge 
devoted  to  tlie  reception  of  condemned  prisoners,  the 
daughter  of  the  Sachem  brought  him  food,*  and,  struck 
with  his  manly  form  and  heroic  bearing,  resolved  to  save 
him  or  share  his  fate.  Her  bold  enterprise  was  favored 
by  the  uncertain  light  of  the  gray  dawn,  while  the  soli- 
tary sentinel,  weary  with  his  night-watch,  and  forgetful  of 
his  duty,  was  slumbering.  Steahng  with  noiseless  tread 
to  tlie  side  of  the  young  captive,  she  cut  the  thongs  where- 
with his  limbs  were  bound,  and  besought  him  in  breath- 
ing accents  t<i  lc)llow  her.  The  fugitives  descended  the 
iiill  l)y  a  wooded  path  conducting  to  the  lake ;  but  ere  they 
reached  the  water,  an  abrm-whoop,  wdld  and  shrill,  was 
heard  issuing  from  the  lips  of  the  waking  guard.  They 
tarried  not,  though  thorny  vines  and  fallen  timber  ob- 
structed tlieir  ^vny.  At  length  they  readied  the  smooth 
beach,  and  leaping  into  a  canoe,  previously  provided  by 
the  brave  and  considerate  damsel,  they  plied  the  paddle 
vigoroush^,  steering  for  the  opposite  shore.  Vain  were 
their  efforts.  On  the  wind  came  cries  of  rage,  and  the 
quick  tramp  of  savage  warriors,  bounding  over  rock  and 


'I 


'I 


*  The  Indians  alwayi  supply  their  prisoner*  witli  every  comfort  until  the  timo 
for  their  execution  arrives. 


(JF  RED-JACKET. 


13 


)ancled  by 
1  young  in 
St  conflict, 

those  gifts 
^e  admira- 
l  to  die  on 
ipalement. 
,"  a  lodge 
soners,  the 
Lnd,  struck 
^ed  to  save 
as  favored 
lie  the  soli- 
forgetful  of 
eless  tread 
iigs  where- 
in breath- 
;ended  the 
ut  ere  they 
shrill,  was 
•d.  They 
imber  ob- 

le  smooth 
jvidcd  by 

le  paddle 
Tain  were 

,  ;ind  the 
rock  and 

until  the  tiiiio 


glen  in  fierce  pursuit.     The  Algonquin,  with  'he  reckless 
daring  of  a  young  brave,  sent  l)ack  a  yell  of  detiance ;  and 
soon  nfter  the  j)l;isli  of  o;irs  wns  hciird,  nnd  a  dozen  war 
canf)cs  were  cutting  the  billows  in  tlieir  re;ir.     'J'he  un- 
fortunate lovers,  on  liinding,  took  a  tni.il  leading  in  a 
western  direction  over  the  liills.     The  Algonquin,  weak- 
ened by  unhealed  wounds,  t<)llowed  his  active  guide  up 
the  acclivity  with  pnnting  heart  and  flagging  pace  ;  while 
his  enemies,  with  the  grim  old  Sachem  at  their  head,  drew 
nearer  and  nearer.     At  length,  finding  farther  attempts 
at  flight  useless,  she  div(n*ged  from  the  trail,  and  conduc- 
ted her  lover  to  a  table-crested  rock  that  projected  over 
a  ravine,  or  gulf,  one  hundred  and  fifty  fl^et  in  depth,  the 
bottom  of  which  was  strewn  with  huge  mis-shapen  rocks, 
scattered  in  rude  confusion.    With  hearts  nerved  to  a  high 
resolve,  the  hapless   pair  awaited  the   arrival  of  their 
yelling  pursuers.     Conspicuous  by  his  eagle  plume,  tow- 
ering form,  and  scowling  brow,  the  daughter  soon  de- 
scried her  inexorable  sire  leaping  from  crag  to  crag  be- 
low her.     He  paused  abruptly  when  iiis  fiery  eye  rested 
on  the  objects  of  his  pursuit.     Notching  an  arrow  on  the 
string  of  his  tried  and  unerring  bow,  he  raised  his  sinewy 
arms — but  en;  tin;  missile  was  sent,  Wun-nut-hay,  the 
Beautiful,  interposed  her  l()nu  betwe(>n  her  fatlicr  and 
his  victim.     In  wild  a})pealing  tones  she  entreated  her 
sire  to  spare  the  young  chieftain,  assuring  him  that  they 
would  leap  together  from  the  precipice  rather  than  be 
separated.     The  stern  old  man,  deaf  lo  her  supplication, 
and  disregarding  her  menace,  ordered  his  t()llowers  to 
seize  the  fugitive.     Warrior  after  warrior  darted  up  the 


if 


14 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


I  if  I 


|i- 


I   r 
:    ! 


ill' 


rock,  but  on  reaching  the  platform,  at  the  moment  when 
they  were  grasping  to  chitch  the  young  brave,  the  lovers, 
locked  in  fond  embrace,  flung  themselves 

"  From  the  steep  rock  and  peri:ilicd." 

The  mangled  bodies  were  buried  in  the  bottom  of  the 
glen,  beneath  the  shade  of  everlasting  rocks  ;  and  two 
small  hollows,  resembling  sunken  graves,  are  to  this  day 
pointed  out  to  the  curious  traveller,  as  the  burial  place 
of  "  the  lovers."  It  is  a  sweet,  wild  haunt, — the  sun- 
beam falls  there  with  a  softened  radiance, — and  a  brook 
near  by  gives  out  a  complaining  murmur,  as  if  mourning 
for  the  dead.* 

But  to  return  from  the  alluring  field  of  romance  to  the 
graver  details  of  historical  incpiiy.  There  is  yet  farther, 
if  not  stronger  evidence  to  sustain  the  position,  that  the 
Five  Nations  had  for  ages  been  in  the  possession  of  their 
L(  ng  House.  For  example,  speaking  f)f  the  mounds  in 
their  country,  which,  like  many  others  scattered  between 
the  lakes  and  the  coast  of  Florida,  have  occasioned  so 
much  of  fpeculation  and  curious  inquiry,  some  of  the 
Senecas  told  Mr.  Kirkland,  the  celebrated  missionary  to 
the  Indians,  "  that  those  in  their  territory  were  raised  by 
their  ancestors,  in  their  wars  with  the  western  Indians, 


*  This  intprpstini;;  legend  was  derived  innny  years  a^n  from  a  Seneca  cliief  of 
gome  nota,  named  "  CheriMcred  Cap,"  and  was  roninmniciitcd  to  me  by  W.  H.  C. 
Hosmer,  Esq.,  of  Avon,  of  whom  more  hereafter.  On  the  top  of  Genundewah 
the  remains  of  an  Indian  orchard  are  visiljlc — a  few  mos3-f!:rown  and  wind-bowed 
npple-trees  still  linger,  sad,  but  fitting  emblems  of  the  wasted  race  by  whom  they 
were  planted. 


'^■«!R<?,-ff. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


15 


nent  when 
the  lovers, 


torn  of  the 
;  iuid  two 
to  this  day 
11  rial  place 
— the  sun- 
nd  a  brook 


mounung 


ance  to  the 

yet  farther, 

■»n,  that  the 

ion  of  their 

mounds  in 

d  between 

nsioned  so 

)mc  of  the 

sionary  to 

raised  by 

n  Indians, 

jcni'ca  chief  of 
hy  W.  H.  C. 
ficmmdcwah 
wiii(l-l)()\vod 
by  whom  they 


-Si 


three,  four,  or  five  hundred  years  ago."*  Indeed  it  was 
the  belief  of  that  people  "  that  they  sprang  and  grew 
up,  in  that  very  place,  like  the  trees  of  the  wilderness."t 
Still  it  is  and  must  ever  remain  a  question  of  doulA 
how  long  the  Aquanuschioni  had  occupied  the  "  Long 
House."  Their  traditions  are  confused,  nnd  not  in  har- 
mony with  each  other.  De  Witt  Clinton  inclined  to  the 
opinion  that  they  first  inhabited  the  country  on  the  north 
side  of  the  great  lakes,  whence  they  liad  been  expelled 
by  the  Adirondacks — they  in  turn  driving  from  the  country 
south  of  the  lakes  a  now  lost  nation,  called  the  Sa tanas. 
But  this  hypothesis  is  inconsistent  with  the  subsequent 
claim  of  the  Iroquois  to  the  country  west  of  Lake  Ontario, 
and  north  of  Lake  Erie,  as  a  con(|uest  from  those  same 
Adirondacks,  or  Hurons.  Governor  Clinton  has  im- 
plicitly followed  Colden  upon  this  point;  but  more 
th(irough  in([uiry  has  shown  that  Colden  was  wrong. 
The  Hiirous,  without  controversy,  were  driven  from  the 
country  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  to  the  north-west,  beyond 
Lake  Superior — "hiding  themselves  in  the  dreary  wastes 
that  divided  the  Chippewas  from  their  western  foes."t 
They  were  afterward  driven  back  by  the  Sioux  to 
Detroit,  and  the  northern  siiore  of  Lake  Erie.  The 
Indians  called  Satanas  by  the  English,  the  Shaouonons 
of  the  French,  resided  farther  west,  upon  the  Mississippi. 
Brant,  in  a  letter  to  Colonel  Timothy  Pickering,  says  the 

*  Clinton's  Discniirso. 

t  NotL"  ill  Diukc'.'*  Book  of  tho  Indians. 

t  Bancroft.  Uuctor  Colde.i  pronounced  the  Adirondacks  "tho  most  warlike 
and  pulito  nation  of  all  the  Indians  in  Nortli  Amoricn."  He  adds — "they  were 
ahnost  entirely  destroyed  by  a  people  they  at  first  despised." 


16 


LIFE  AND  TIMES.  &c. 


II:; 


il; 

!|i 

I! 


iji'Mi 

country  south  of  Buffalo  Creek  and  Lake  Erie  "was 
obtained  by  ihe  joint  exertions  of  the  Five  Nations,  in  a 
war  with  a  powerful  nation  of  Indians  called  Eries,  and 
another  nation  then  living  at  Tioga  Point ; — so  that,  by 
our  successes,  all  the  country  between  that  and  the 
Mississippi  became  the  joint  property  of  the  Five  Nations. 
All  other  nations  now  inhal)iting  this  great  tract  of  coun- 
try were  allowed  to  settle  by  the  Five  Nations."* 

There  is  yet  anotlicr  tradition,  that  the  Five  Nations 
came  originally  from  the  remote  west.  But,  so  far  as  is 
known,  there  is  no  language  in  that  vast  region  assimi- 
lating to  theirs,  while  the  languages  of  the  Indians  east 
of  the  Hudson  river  were  evidentlv  from  the  same  root 
as  the  different  dialects  of  the  great  Delaware  family, 
who  are  allowed  to  have  come  from  that  direction.  The 
tradition,  imputed  l)y  some  writers  to  the  Senecas,  that 
they  were  once  occupants  of  the  territory  of  the  Creeks, 
at  the  south,  is  not  worthy  of  consideration.  This  inci- 
dental discussion,  theretbrc,  respecting  the  origin  of  the 
Five  Nations,  or  rather  the  length  of  time  in  which  they 
had  been  in  the  occupancy  oi  Mhat  they  figuratively 
called  their  "  long  house,"  has  necessarily  left  the  ques- 
tion involved  in  as  much  obscurity  as  it  was  before,  save 
that  it  is  believed  to  have  been  pretty  clearly  shown 
that  they  were  liy  no  means  recent  occupants  of  their 
territory  at  the  time  when  tli(>  white  men  came  among 
them,  nor  had  they  been  driven  from  the  north  by  the 
Hurons. 

*  MS.  letter  from  Joseph  Brant — Tliayendanegoa — to  Colonel  Pickering,  dated 
30th  December,  1794,  in  the  author's  jjosspssion. 


'^ 


Erie  "was 
Nations,  in  a 
I  Erics,  and 
-so  that,  by 
at  and  the 
ive  Nations, 
act  of  coun- 
is."* 

ive  Nations 

,  so  far  as  is 

>ion  assimi- 

ndians  east 

le  same  root 

/•are  ftimily, 

ction.     The 

enecas,  that 

the  Creeks, 

This  inci- 

qin  of  the 

which  they 

iguratively 

;t  the  ques- 

)efore,  save 

irly  shown 

[Its  of  their 

me  among 

orth  by  the 


Pickering,  dated 


CHAPTER  II. 

Nativity  of  Sa-go-ye-wat-ha— Origin  of  the  name,  Red-Jacket— Serves  with 
the  Indians  agp.inst  the  United  States— Charges  of  treachery  and  cowardice — 
Hatred  of  Brant— Culled  "  The  Cow-Killer"— Cornplanter— Treaty  of  1789, 
at  Fort  Stanwix — Views  of  Washington— Course  of  Red-Jacket  and  Corn- 
planter  there, — the  former  opposing  the  treaty,  and  the  latter  effecting  it — 
Dissatisfaction  of  the  Indians  at  the  result— Cornplanter  attempts  to  reconcile 
them- His  failure — Appeals  to  General  Washington — Claims  of  Massachu- 
setts to  Western  New-York — Massachusetts  acquires  the  pre-emption  title — 
Sells  a  part  to  Phelps  and  Gorhara — Stupendous  scheme  for  dismembering 
New-York— The  plot  crushed  by  Governor  George  Clinton  and  the  legisla- 
ture—Inklings of  llcd-Jacket's  duplicity. 

The  Seneca  chief,  Sa-go-ye-wat-ha,  or  "  Hc-lvcps- 
them-awaJce,"  has,  by  some  writers  upon  Indian  history, 
been  designated  as  "  The  Last  of  the  SenectJS,"  and 
perhaps  with  figurative  justice.  He  had  several  able 
contemporaries,  names  not  unknown  to  fame,  among  whom 
were  Farmer's-Brotheh  and  the  Cornplanter.  But 
these  chiefs  were  older  than  himself,  and  distinguished 
ratlicr  as  warriors  than  as  orators  ;  while  Sa-go-ye- 
wat-ha,  whose  eloquence  was  the  glory  of  his  people, 
has  left  no  one  behind  who  can  fill  his  place  at  the  coun- 
cil-fire. The  orator  "  owed  nothing  to  the  advantages 
of  illustrious  descent."*  On  the  contrary,  his  parentage 
was  humble,  even  in  the  estimate  of  his  own  people, 
iimong  whom  the  democratic  principle  of  positive  equality 

*  Do  Witt  Clinton's  Historical  Discourse. 


•  t 


18 


LIFi:  AND  TIMKS 


l:  I  I 


Hi 


i 


is  as  nearly  approximated,  perhaps,  as  in  any  other 
country  in  the  universe.  He  is  heheved  to  have  been 
born  about  the  year  1750,  at  a  place  called  Old  Castle, 
three  miles  west  ol'  the  present  bea  ititul  and  flourishing 
town  ot"  Geneva,  at  the  foot  of  Seneca  Lake.*  Of  his 
early  histoiy  little  is  known  be^-ond  the  fact  asserted 
by  tradition,  that  he  was  remarkably  swift  upon  the 
chase,  and  irom  his  fleetncss  was  often  employed  as  a 
messenger,  lirst  among  his  own  people,  and  afterward, 
during  the  war  of  the  American  revolution,  as  a  runner 
for  the  British  officers  eni2aoed  in  tlic  border  service. 
His  name  of  "  Red-Jacket,"  by  whic.-h  he  was  so  long 
familiarl}'  known  among  the  whili.'  people,  is  said  to  have 
been  acquired  in  die  following  Uiamier:  During  the  war 
just  mentioiu'd,  his  activity  and  ii:telligence  attracted  the 
attention  of  several  officers  in  the  service  of  the  British 
crown,  and  acquired  for  him  their  friendship.  One  of 
them,  either  as  a,  compliment,  or  for  services  rendered, 
"  presented  him  with  a  richly  embroidered  scarlet  jacket, 
which  he  took  grcf  I  pride  in  wearing.  When  this  was 
worn  out,  he  was  presented  with  another;  and  he  con- 
tinued to  wear  this  peculiar  dress  until  it  became  a  mark 
of  distinction,  and  gave  him  the  name  by  which  he  was 
afterward  best  known."t  At  the  treaty  of  1794,  held  at 
Canandaigua,  Captain  Parish,  one  of  the  interpreters 
in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  gave  him  another  red 
jacket,  "to  perpetuate  the  name  to  which  he  was  so 
much  attached."! 


*  Sketch  of  Red-Jacket,  written  by  the  Rev.  John  Breckenridge,  D.  D.,  for 
M'Kenney's  Indian  Biography.  t  Idem.  {  Idem. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


If 


any  other 
lave  been 
Id  Castle, 
flourishing 
*  Of  his 
t  asserted 

upon  the 
eyed  as  a 
atterward, 
s  a  runner 
er  service, 
as  so  long 
id  to  have 
iig  the  war 
;racted  the 
he  British 
5.     One  of 

rendered, 
let  jacket, 
n  this  was 
d  he  con- 
nc  a  mark 
ch  he  was 
)4,  held  at 
terpreters 
nothcr  red 
le  was  so 


ge,  D.  D.,  for 


i 


The  most  authentic  information  that  has  been  ob- 
tained respecting  his  earlier  career  presents  him,  in  the 
outset  of  his  slender  military  service,  in  a  very  unfavor- 
able attitude.  It  was  while  he  was  upon  the  war-path, 
during  the  invasion  of  the  Genesee  country  by  General 
Sullivan,  in  1779. 

The  author  of  the  spirited  sketch  of  his  lif(^  just  quoted 
speaks  of  the  "  activity  and  intelligence"  by  which  he 
distinguished  him;'  olf  in  that  war,  "  though  he  had  scarce- 
ly reached  the  age  of  manhood  when  ho  engaged  in  it." 
But  the  writer,  soon  afterward,  observer,  with  greater 
justice ; — "  in  tliat  contest  he  took  little  or  no  part  as  a 
warrior ;  and  it  would  appear  that  like  his  celebrated 
predecessors  in  rhetorical  fame,  Demosthenes  and  Cicero, 
he  better  understood  how  to  rouse  his  countrymen  to 
war  than  to  lead  them  to  victory."*  It  is  well  known 
to  those  who  arc  accurately  versed  in  the  Indian  history 
of  the  Inst  hidf  century,  that  the  celebrated  Mohawk 
leader  of  the  Six  Nations,  Thnyendanegca,  more  com- 
monly known  as  Joseph  Brnnt,  ever  regarded  the  Seneca 
orator  with  mingled  feelings  of  hatred  and  contempt. 
The  Mohawk  chief  was  wont  to  charge  him  with  conduct 
perfectly  in  keeping  with  the  classical  piirallel  indicated 
by  Dr.  Breckenridge.     According  to  the  statements  of 


*  Sketch  by  Rev.  Dr.  Breclionriclge.  Ciccn-o,  it,  is  tnip,  giivo  cvitlfnco  of  irre- 
solution, if  not  timidity,  in  tlie  struifglcs  bctwnon  Cirsar  and  tlio  republic  ;  and 
Demosthenes  was  accused  of  having  been  corrupted  by  the  presents  of  Alexander. 
Thus  far,  between  both  the  ancient  orators  and  the  Seneca,  it  will  appear  that 
there  is  a  seeming  parallel.  Of  the  former  two,  cowardice  was  predicated  of 
the  one,  and  treachery  of  the  other.  The  Seneca,  us  will  bo  seen,  has  been 
charged  with  both. 


i    •;■ 


m 


ii: 


I    I 


m 


E 


vM 


\i4 


20 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


Brant  and  others, — made,  too,  with  inconvenient  direct- 
ness in  the  presence  ol'  Red-Jacket  himselt^ — the  latter 
had  been  known  to  exert  his  eloquence  to  enkindle  a 
war-spirit  in  the  bosoms  of  the  braves  of  his  nation,  and 
provoke  them  to  take  up  the  hatchet,  while  he  inge- 
niously avoided  the  war-path,  and  availed  himself  of  the 
absence  of  the  warriors,  thus  procured,  to  plunder  the 
goods,  and  even  live  stock,  wherever  he  could — not 
caring  to  discriminate  between  the  property  of  an  enemy 
and  that  of  the  absentees  of  his  own  people.  Hence  the 
name  of  "  Cow-JciUcr"  bestowed  upon  him  by  Joseph 
Brant,  in  a  letter  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland, 
written  in  180-5.* 

But  the  origin  of  the  Mohawk  chieftain's  enmity  is  to 
be  traced  to  a  more  remote  and  still  more  aggravated 
cause,  while,  as  will  hereafter  appear,  there  were  trans- 
actions on  the  part  of  Red-Jacket  of  deep  personal  con- 
cern to  Brant,  which  added  to  the  bitterness  of  his 
hatred.  During  the  campaign  of  General  Sullivan, 
already  referred  to,  in  which  the  Americans,  like  a 
stream  of  fire,  swept  through  the  fine  country  then  in- 
habited by  the  Cayugas  and  Senecas,  and  now  forming 

*  Life  of  Brant,  vol.  ii.  p.  417.  "  Rcd-Jackot  was,  from  the  following  cir- 
cumstance, nick-named  '  The  Cow-killer :'  During  the  revolutionary  war,  he  had 
on  some  occasion  pxhorted  his  followers  to  behave  with  courage  in  an  engage- 
ment expected  to  take  place,  promising  that  he  would  himself  bo  found  in  the 
hottest  of  the  fight.  But  when  the  engagement  came  on,  Red-Jacket  was  missing, 
and  was  found,  during  the  battle,  cutting  up  a  cow,  belonging  to  an  Indian,  which 
he  had  killed.  One  day,  when  dining  at  my  house  with  Captain  Brant,  Corn- 
planter  told  the  stoi'y  as  if  the  act  had  been  committed  by  some  other  Indian. 
He  and  Brant  laughed  exceedingly  at  the  anecdote,  and  at  Ked-Jacket's  confu- 
sion. The  latter  attempted  to  join  in  the  laugh,  but  was  evidently  very  much 
embarrassed.'" — Letter  to  the  author  from  Thomas  Morris. 


■^ 

t 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


SI 


ient  direct- 
— the  latter 
enkindle  a 
nation,  and 
Ic  he  inge- 
nself  of  the 
)lunder  the 
could — not 
f  an  enemy 
Hence  the 
by  Joseph 
umberland, 

;nmity  is  to 
aggravated 
ivere  trans- 
rsonal  con- 
less  of  his 
I  Sullivan, 
ms,  like  a 
y  then  in- 
>\v  forming 

following  cir- 
ry  war,  he  had 
in  an  engage- 
found  in  the 
!t  was  missing, 
Indian,  which 
n  Brant,  Corn- 
othor  Indian. 
acknt's  confu- 
itly  very  much 


the  wc.«tern  porpon  of  the  State  of  New- York,  the 
Mohawk  chief  was  the  leader,  and  the  master-spirit,  of 
the  Indiiin  torccs.  The  battle  of  Newtown,  so  disastrous 
to  the  Indians,  the  tories,  and  other  more  regular  troops 
in  the  British  service,  left  Captain  Brant  no  choice  but 
either  to  abandon  the  whole  country  at  once,  or  adopt  the 
Fabian  system,  and  harass  the  American  army  by  coun- 
ter-marches and  ambuscades.  But  the  INIohawk  was  not 
a  man  to  fly  while  a  blow  coidd  be  struck,  and  the  latter 
alternative  was  adopted ;  with,  at  times,  no  inconsidera- 
ble degree  of  success.  Yet,  on  the  whole,  the  campaign 
of  Sullivan  resulted  in  the  sad  discomfiture  of  the  In- 
dians ;  and  it  was  in  after  hfe  urged  by  Brant,  that  the 
conduct  of  Red-Jacket  had  not  only  caused  him  much 
trouble  and  embarrassment  during  that  invasion,  but  had 
been  the  principal  cause  of  the  disasters  of  his  people. 
Sa-g(i-ye-wat-ha  was  then  twenty-nine  years  old,  and 
although  it  does  not  appear  that  he  had  yet  been  created 
a  chief,  he  nevertheless  seems  to  have  been  aheady  a 
man  of  influence.  He  was  in  the  practice  of  holding 
private  consultations  with  the  young  warriors,  and  some 
of  the  younger  and  less  resolute  chiefs,  for  the  purpose  of 
fomenting  discontents,  and  persuading  them  to  sue  for 
what  Brant  considered  ignominious  terms  of  peace.  On 
one  occasion,  as  Brant  has  alleged,  Red-Jacket  had  so 
far  succeeded  in  his  treachery  as  to  induce  some  of 
the  disaffected  chiefs  to  send  a  runner  into  Sullivan's 
camp,  to  make  known  the  dissensions  he  himself  had 
awakened,  and  invite  a  flag  of  truce,  with  propositions 
of  peace  to  the  Indians.     But  the  eagle  eye  of  the  Mo- 


til; 


j!  ■•  I 


■i; 


22 


LIFE  AND  TIMES. 


hawk  penetrated  the  conspirncy.  Still  his  own  position 
was  too  prcc;ii"ious  to  allow  the  exercise  of  force  in 
crushing  it.  Watching  every  movement,  therefore,  he 
despatched  two  confidential  warriors  to  intercept  the 
Americitn  ll;ig,  possess  themselv(>s  of  the  bearer's  des- 
patches, and  put  him  todcalh.  This  bloody  but  neces- 
sary connnission  wiis  executed  widi  irue  Indian  adroit- 
ness, nnd  the  purposes  of  Red-Jacket  were  for  that 
time  frustrated.* 

The.  cluirgc^  of  positive  cownrdice,  during  the  same 
campaign,  rests  upon  the  lesliniony  of  nnother — the 
brave  and  war-like  Cornplanter,  a,  clii(>f  of  the  same 
nation.  It  had  hccn  ihe  iutcntion  ol"  iliis  chief  to  make 
a  stand  against  a  detachment  of  Cleneral  Sullivan's 
forces,  on  the  beach  of  the  Canandaigua  lake — the  In- 
dian village  at  that  place  having  bt-en  a  very  considera- 
ble town.  But  "on  the  a])proacli  of  th(>  Americans,  a 
small  number  of  the  Indians,  among  whom  was  Red- 
Jacket,  began  to  retreat.  Conn)hinter  exerted  himself 
to  rally  them.  He  sprang  in  front  of  Red-.Iacket  and 
endeavored  to  ])ersua(le  him  to  light — but  in  vain. 
Whereupon  the  indignant  chief,  turning  to  the  young 
wife  of  the  recreant  warricjr,  exchiimed — "Leave  that 
man — he  is  a  cowtird  !"t 

The  name  of  Re(]-.Iacket  occurs  not  again  in  history, 
written  or  unwritten,  until  in  connexion  with  the  great 
Indian  Treaty  Ik  Id  at  r(nt  Slanwix,  in  the  year  1784. 
It  red«)unds  little  to  the  credit  of  the  Ibitish  ministiy  of 
1782-S.3,  that  in  tlie  treaty  of  peace  with  the  United 

•  Lifo  of  Drant,  vol.  ii.  p.  35.  t  Kcv.  Pr.  John  Brocknnridgo. 


Stal 
cedl 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


23 


States,  by  which  the  independence  of  the  latter  was  con- 
ceded to  the  liillest  extent,  no  stipulation  was  inserted 
in  behalf  of  the  red  a  Hies  of  the  crown.  Four  of  the 
Six  Nations,  viz.,  the  ]Moh:i\vks,  Onondngas,  Cayugas, 
and  Senecas,  had  adhered  to  the  roy;d  cause?  with  the 
utmost  constancy  and  with  ])frtect  fldehty.  They  had 
all  poured  out  their  blood  like  water;  their  country  had 
been  ravaged  by  fire  and  sword,  and  the  Mohawks  liad 
been  entirely  driven  from  their  t)wn  peculiar  ;uid  beau- 
tiful region;  and  yet  not  the  sligliTcst  provisi(,n  was  in- 
terposed in  their  behalf  by  those  whom  they  had  served 
so  bravely  and  so  long. 

But  although  the  hatchet  w;is  not   formnlly  buried,  its 
use  wiis  suspended  l)y  tlie  tre;i1y  ol"  l7^-"5,  and  no  farther 
acts  of  hostility  were  perix'tniied  by  the  Six  Nations. 
Still,  smarting  ;is  were  the  borderers  of  New- York  from 
the  cruelties  of  the  Tndi;ins,  the  legisi:itun^  of  that  State 
began  to  agitate  the  (lut'stion  of  :in  entire  expulsion  of  the 
race  from  beyond   its    nniotoi  western  confines,   and 
the  confiscation  of   their  i;nids.     The  humiine  feelings 
of  Genend  Washington  revolted  iigainst  so  hi irsh  a,  mea- 
sure, as  also  (bd  those  of  (Icnend  Schnyh'r.     Tlie  best 
relations  Imd  ever  subsisted  between  the  Duleli  ;uid  the 
Six  Nations,  and  likewise,  ii»rth»;  most  p;irt,  between  the 
latter  and  the  English  colonists;    and   it  w;is  held  by 
Washington  iind  Schuyler,    and  others  whose  dpinions 
were  entitled  to  eonsidenuiou,  thiU  the   bidians  who  li;id 
been  deluded  into  the  service  of  the  crown   during  the 
late  struggle  should  be  concihatcd,  il  imi  won  b.iek  to 
the  interests  of  tlic  United  States,  by  humane  and  lil)eral 


;i 


I 


:    ' 


1                r 

!      I                  -      ■- 

L-ii' 


24 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


treatment.  In  the  opinion  of  Washington,  their  expul- 
sion by  force  would  inevitably  involve  the  young  repub- 
lic in  another  general  Indian  war  ; — whereas,  were  they 
treated  with  that  degree  of  kindness  and  benevolence 
which  the  United  States  could  then  so  wx41  affJird  to  ex- 
tend to  them,  and  which  would  be  so  creditnble  to  the 
character  of  the  confederation,  their  country  might  from 
time  to  time  be  obtained  by  negotiation  as  fast  as  it  would 
be  wanted  for  settlement  by  the  whites,  and  at  much  less 
cost  than  it  could  be  accjuired  for  by  concjuest.  Hap- 
pily these  principles  prevailed,  and  a  grand  council  was 
held  by  the  chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations  at  Ff)rt  Stnnwix,  in 
the  autumn  of  1784,  which  was  attended  l)y  Oliver  Wol- 
cott,  Richard  Butler,  and  Arthur  Lee,  on  the  part  of  the 
United  States,  and  at  which  a  treaty  of  peace  was  nego- 
tiated. The  journals  of  diis  council  have  been  lost,  and 
nothing  remains  but  the  naked  treaty,  by  the  provisions 
of  which  the  Six  Nations  were  received  under  the  pro- 
tection of  the  United  States,  and  secured  in  tlie  posses- 
sion of  all  the  tracts  of  country  witliin  the  boundaries  of 
New- York,  of  which  they  were  then  the  occupants. 

This  treaty  was  not  signed  bj'  the  chiefs  in  attendance 
upon  the  council,  as  is  the  usual  practic{>,  but  l)y  the 
names  and  arms  of  the  nations  represented,  comprising 
the  whole  six  of  the  Irotjuois  confederacy.  There  is, 
therefore,  no  catalogue^  extant  of  the  sachems  and  chiefs 
present  at  the  council ;  but  from  other  and  sul)se(|uent 
passages  of  Indian  history,  it  has  been  rendered  certain 
thiit  among  the  more  prominent  of  the  Indian  leaders 
on  that  occasion, — Uie  most  inlluential  and  the  most  clo- 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


25 


quent — ^were  the  Cornplanter  and  Red-Jacket.  At 
what  time  the  latt  r  had  been  elevated  to  the  dignity  of 
chieftainship  is  not  known.  The  means  employed  to  ob- 
tain the  rank  are  less  uncertain.  His  conduct  upon  the 
war-path  could  not,  by  possibility,  have  purchased  for 
him  the  favor  of  his  people,  for  that  conduct  had  been 
most  emphaticall}''  stamped  both  with  treachery  and 
cowardice — the  latter  imperfection  being  ever  an  un- 
pardonable offence  among  warriors  of  all  nations,  with 
whatever  leniency  the  former  may  perhaps  be  looked 
upon  by  Indians.  But  the  Six  Nations,  above  all  others 
of  the  American  aboriginals,  were  lovers  of  eloquence, 
and  cultivators  of  the  art.*  Red-Jaclcct's  iuteUectufd 
powers  were  of  a  high  order,  and  he  was  an  orator  by 
nature. t  He  was,  moreover,  as  artful  and  ambitious  as 
he  was  eloquent.  Aspiring  to  the  rank  of  a  chief,  he  not 
only  wrought  upon  the  minds  of  his  people  by  the  exertion 
of  diat  faculty  which  was  ever  with  them  a  high  standard 
of  merit,  but  he  succeeded  in  avaihng  himself  of  the 
superstitious  constitution  of  his  race,  to  effect  his  purpose. 
"  His  tir&t  essay  was  to  dream  that  he  was,  or  should 
be,  a  chiel",  and  that  the  Great  Spirit  was  angry  that  his 

*  "  Tho  most  rcmarkablo  diflTercnco  cxisteil  between  the  Confoilrrntcs  [Six 
Nations,]  and  the  other  Indians,  with  respect  to  elocjucnce.  Yuu  may  search  in 
vain  in  tho  records  and  writings  of  tho  past,  or  in  the  event*  of  the  present  times, 
for  a  singhi  model  of  eloquence  among  tho  Aigonqiiins,  the  Dolawiires,  tho 
Shawanese,  or  any  other  nation  of  Indians,  except  the  Irixiuois.  The  few  scintil- 
lations of  intellectual  light,  tho  faint  glimmerings  of  genius  which  ore  sometime* 
to  hu  found  in  their  s|)e«chcs,  are  evidently  derivative,  and  borrowed  from  the 
Confc-dcratcs." — De  Will  Clinton. 

t  (ieneral  ICrastus  Root  onco  remarked  to  tho  author,  that  ho  considered  John 
Randolph  and  Red-Jacket  tlie  two  most  perfect  orators  whom  he  had  ever  heard. 


1 

■. 
p. 

■ 

~ 

'; 

f 

1 

ll 


:1 


J 


p 


26 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


nation  had  not  advanced  him  to  that  dignity.  This 
dream,  with  the  necessary  variations,  was  repeated, 
until,  fortunately  for  him,  the  small-pox  broke  out  among 
the  Senccas.  He  then  proclaimed  the  loathsome  in- 
fliction a  judgment  sent  by  the  Great  Spirit,  to  punish 
them  for  their  ingratitude  to  him.  The  consequence, 
iiltimately,  was,  that  by  administering  flattery  to  Pome, 
working  upon  the  superstitious  fears  of  others,  and  by 
awakening  the  admiration  of  all  by  his  eloquence,  he 
reached  the  goal  of  his  ambition."*  Hence  his  appear- 
ance in  the  council  at  Fort  Stanwix,  in  company  with  the 
same  brave  chief  by  whom  he  had  been  so  bitterly  re- 
proached for  his  cowardice,  on  the  margin  of  Canandaigua 
Lake,  Ave  years  before. 

Nor  is  it  the  least  singular  circumstance  in  this  portion 
of  his  history,  that  he  was  the  sturdy  opponent  of  Corn- 
planter  in  the  debates  of  the  council,  and  although  so 
utterly  unfitted,  by  the  absence  of  physical  courage,  for 
war  himself,  he  was  nevertheless  opposed  to  peace — at 
least  on  the  basis  upon  which  it  was  granted.  It  appears 
from  the  proceedings  of  a  great  Indian  council  held  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Detroit  river,  in  178G,  two  years  after 
the  treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix,  that  the  council  at  the 
latter  place, — the  chiefs  especially,  who,  with  their 
nations,  had  been  engaged  on  the  side  of  Great  Britain, 
in  the  struggle  then  recent — were,  for  the  most  part, 
opposed  to  the  conclusion  of  any  treaty  which  did 
not  include  the  Hurons,  Ottawas,  Shawanese,  Chippe- 
was,  Dclawares,  Pottawattamies,  and  tlie  Wabash  con- 
federates, as  well   as  the  Six  Nations,  and  cover  the 

*  Life  of  Brant. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


27 


entire  question  of  boundaries  for  the  whole.*  They  de- 
sired that  these  several  nations  might  be  invited  to  join 
the  council,  that  the  pacification  might  include  all  who 
had  borne  a  part  hostile  to  the  United  States  in  the  war. 
Red-Jacket  was  strenuous  upon  this  point ;  contending, 
with  great  vehemence,  that,  unless  it  were  conceded, — 
no  matter  for  the  withdrawal  of  Great  Britain  from  the 
contest, — the  Indians  ought  to  make  common  cause, 
and  prosecute  the  war  on  their  own  account.  His  speech 
was  characterized,  by  those  who  heard  it,  as  a  master- 
piece of  oratory,  and  it  has  been  declared  that  every 
warrior  present  was  carried  away  by  his  eloquence.! 
But  the  commissioners  would  listen  to  no  such  propo- 
sition ;  and  the  Cornplanter,  who  was  an  old  and  wise 
man,  though  less  eloquent  than  his  junior  associate,  ulti- 
mately succeeded  in  g  ving  a  favorable  turn  to  the  nego- 
ciation.  Cornplanter  was  a  warrior  of  unquestionable 
bravery.  His  trail  had  been  bloody ;  and  he  therefore, 
at  that  time,  stood  high  in  the  confidence  of  his  people, 
and  of  course  exerted  a  corresponding  influence.  He 
saw  how  utterly  hopeless  must  be  a  contest  between  the 
Indians,  single-handed,  and  the  United  States,  and  he 
ultimately  succeeded  in  effecting  a  pacification — sur- 
rendering, by  necessity,  a  large  portion  of  the  Indian 
territory  witliin  the  State  of  New- York,  l)ut  yet  retaining 
ample  ranges  of  the  forest  for  liis  own  people.     But 


mi: 


"  Life  of  Brant. 

t  General  Lufayctto,  who  was  present  at  the  treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix.  Vide 
Levasseur's  account  of  the  General's  interview  with  Red-Jacket,  at  Buffalo,  in 
1825. 


28 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


I!'  ''Pi 


J  !>i 


'iii 


mil 


although  the  result  of  the  negotiation  was  more  favorable 
to  the  Six  Nations  than  they  had  any  just  right  to  expect, 
it  nevertheless  gave  great  dissatisfaction  to  the  Indians 
generally ;  and  f  everal  years  elapsed  before  the  Senecas 
became  reconciled  to  it. 

After  the  conclusion  of  the  treaty,  the  commissioners 
engaged  Cornplanter  to  make  special  endeavors  to  pacify 
his  people,  the  Senecas  and  others ;  as  a  compensation 
for  which  exertions  a  special  grant  of  land  was  made  to 
him  on  the  Alleghany  river,  within  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania, on  which  he  resided  until  his  death.  But  his 
people  were  not  easily  reconciled ;  and  they  were  yet 
more  exasperated  at  the  conduct  of  Cornplanter,  when, 
five  j'^ears  afterward,  at  the  treaty  of  Fort  Harmar,  he 
gave  up  a  still  larger  portion  of  their  territory.  He  was 
bitterly  reproached  for  this  transaction ;  but,  as  in  the 
treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix,  his  motives  were  beyond  im- 
peachment. His  life  was  even  threatened,* — a  circum- 
stance to  which  he  referred  in  the  pathetic  speech  de- 
livered by  him  to  "the  Great  Counsellor  of  the  Thirteen 
Fires,"t  at  Philadelphia,  in  1790  :— 

"  Father,  we  will  not  conceal  from  you  that  the  Great  God, 
and  not  man,  has  preserved  the  Cornplanter  from  the  hands 
of  his  own  people." 

The  speech  here  cited  is  a  long  and  moving  appeal  to 
the  Thirteen  Fires,  to  reconsider  their  treaties  and  other 
proceedings  with  the  Indians,  and  especially  for  a  redress 


*  Drake's  Book  of  the  Indians. 


t  Washington. 


I 


"f 

'■3 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


29 


of  alleged  grievances,  connected  with  the  purchase  of  a 
large  portion  of  their  lands  in  Western  New- York,  by 
Oliver  Phelps  and  Nathaniel  Gorham.  In  regard  to  the 
treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix,  the  history  of  which  is  eloquently 
reviewed  in  the  speech,  the  Cornplanter  declares  that 
its  concessions  were  yielded  only  to  force. 

"  You  then  told  us  that  we  were  in  your  hand,  and  that  by 
closing  it  you  oould  crush  us  to  nothing,  and  you  demanded 
from  us  a  great  country  as  the  price  of  that  peace  you  had 
offered  us — as  if  our  want  of  strength  had  destroyed  our  rights. 
Our  chiefs  had  felt  your  power,  and  were  unable  to  contend 
against  you,  and  they  therefore  gave  up  that  country."  "  There 
were  but  few  chiefs  present,  and  they  were  compelled  to  give 
it  up  ;  and  it  is  not  the  Six  Nations  only  that  reproach  us  for 
having  given  up  that  country.  The  Chippewas,  and  all  the 
nations  which  lived  on  those  lands  westward,  call  to  us,  and 
ask  us — '  Brothers  of  our  fathers  !  Where  is  the  place  which 
you  have  reserved  for  us  to  lie  down  upon  V  What  they 
agreed  to  has  bound  our  nation ;  but  your  anger  against  us 
must,  by  this  time,  be  cooled,  and  though  our  strength  h^s  not 
increased,  nor  your  power  become  less,  we  ask  you  to  consider 
calmly,  were  the  terms  dictated  to  us  by  your  commissioners 
reasonable  and  just?"* 

It  is  evident  from  the  whole  strain  of  this  remarkable 
speech,  that  Cornplanter  was  harassed  by  the  murmurs 
of  his  own  people,  and  himself  grieved  at  their  condition. 
And  it  will  be  seen  in  the  sequel,  that  the  crafty  Sa- 
go-yc-wat-ha  afterward  availed  himself  of  the  position 
he  had  himself  occupied  at  Fort  Stanwix,  to  advance  his 

*  Tublic  Documents — Indian  Affairs,  vol.  i.  pp.  20C,  207. 


ill  I. 


I     ■    If 


30 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


'I!  1  i 

iH':i    ! 


1^*  1 


own  ambitious  views  at  the  expense  of  his  more  ingenuous 
superior.*  Still,  it  must  in  justice  be  conceded  to  the 
orator,  that  the  treaty  of  peace  having  been  concluded, 
he  ever  after  maintained  it  with  the  most  unwavering 
fidelity. 

The  names  of  Oliver  Phelps  and  Nathaniel  Gorham 
have  been  incidentally  mentioned  a  few  sentences  back, 
in  connection  with  the  griefs  which  Cornplanter  was 
pouring  into  the  ears  of  his  "  Great  Father,"  the  "  Coun- 
sellor of  the  Thirteen  Fires ;"  and  the  name  of  Red- 
Jacket  appearing  in  the  same  connexion,  a  few  words  of 
explanation  seem  to  be  required.     It  is  well  known  that 
in  consequence  of  the  loose  and  indefinite  manner  in 
which  patents  had  been  granted  by  the  crown,  in  the 
earlier  history  of  the  colonies,  to  vast  tracts  and  regions 
of  lands  unknown,  several  difficult  questions  of  land 
titles  and  jurisdiction  arose  between  New- York,  Con- 
necticut, Massachusetts,  and  Pennsylvania.     In  the  ad- 
justment of  these  difficulties,  Connecticut  became  dis- 
possessed of  a  tract  in  the  Susquehanna  country,  called 
"  The  Gore,"  and,  on  the  other  hand,  received  that  portion 
of  the  State  of  Ohio,  commonly  known  as  "  New-Con- 
necticut," or  "  The  Western  Reserve."     Pennsylvania 
obtained  a  tract  of  land  lying  immediately  beyond  the 
western  boundary  of  New- York,  and  northeast  of  her 
own,  embracing  the  harbor  of  Presquc  Isle,  upon  Lake 
Erie,  familiarly  known  as  "  The  Triangle."     This  was 
an  important  acquisition  to  Pennsylvania,  affording  the 

*  Life  of  Brant,  vol.  ii.  p.  245. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


31 


only  passage,  upon  her  own  territory,  to  Lake  Erie.  The 
difficulties  between  New- York  and  Massachusetts  were 
more  serious,  and  of  more  difficult  adjustment,  by  reason 
of  the  claim  of  the  latter  to  a  very  large  portion  of  West- 
ern New- York.  ^  ..  an  amicable  arrangement  was  effected 
toward  the  close  of  1786,  by  mutual  concessions.  Massa- 
chusetts' relinquished  the  jurisdiction  which  she  had  at- 
tempted to  claim,  and  New- York  rehnquished  to  Massa- 
chusetts the  pre-emptive  right,  (or  the  right  of  purchasing 
the  soil  from  the  Indians,)  to  a  tract  of  land  embracing 
six  millions  of  acres,  comprehending  what  is  generally 
known  as  "the  Genesee ' country,"  and  the  territory  be- 
yond to  Lake  Erie  and  the  Pennsylvania  border.  New- 
York  thus  retained  her  sovereignty,  but  lost  the  fee  of 
one  of  the  finest  regions  of  country  in  the  New  World. 

Pending  the  adjustment  of  these  difficulties,  and  em- 
boldened, probably,  by  the  success  which  crowned  the 
efforts  of  the  Green  Mountaineers  in  robbing  New- York 
of  the  territory  composing  the  state  of  Vermont,  a  daring 
company  of  speculators,  residing  upon  the  banks  of  the 
Hudson,  had  attempted  to  grasp  the  entire  country  re- 
maining to  the  Six  Nations  after  the  treaty  of  1784,  with 
a  view,  as  it  was  beheved,  of  ultimately  dismembering 
New- York,  and  creating  a  separate  state  from  its  western 
territory.*  The  laws  of  New- York,  even  at  that  early 
day,  prohibited  the  purchase  of  any  Indian  lands  what- 

*  The  gentlemen  concerned  in  this  vast  project  were,  John  Livingston,  Caleb 
Benton,  Peter  Ryckman,  John  Stephenson,  Ezekiel  Gilbert,"ancl  their  associates, 
of  the  county  of  Columbia,  and  state  of  New- York. 


r' 


{I       !, 


fif: 

i;  ii 

'  '■■■  ■  '**■ 

;  1 

i 

il 

Ill 


82 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


i  I 


1     i 

i 

1 

1 
'1 

,        1 

if! 

ever,  by  individuals,  or  by  companies,  within  the  state. 
But  Colonel  Livingston  and  his  associates  attempted  to 
escape  the  legal  difficulties  by  an  evasion.  Instead  of 
maldng  a  purchase,  they  negotiated  with  the  chiefs  of  the 
Six  Nations,  in  the  autumn  of  17S7,  for  a  lease  of  their 
entire  territory  within  the  state  of  New- York,  exclusive 
of  certain  reservations,  for  and  during  the  period  of  nine 
hundred  and  ninety-nine  years,  at  the  nominal  yearly  rent 
of  two  thousand  Spanish  milled  dollars,  to  be  paid  annu- 
ally on  the  4th  day  of  July.  A  lease  of  such  extended 
duration  was  equivalent  to  a  purchase  of  the  fee  of  the 
land,  and  was  so  considered  by  the  lessees,  whose 
object,  as  it  was  understood,  was  to  throw  a  large  popa- 
lation  as  rapidly  as  possible  into  that  territory,  to  form 
the  nucleus  of  another  independent  state.  But  the 
government  of  the  state,  and  the  people,  took  the  alarm. 
Remonstrances  were  poured  in  upon  the  legi'-lature  from 
Hudson,  Poughkeepsie,  and  other  towns,  expressing  the 
surprise  and  anxiety  with  which  the  remonstrants  had 
observed  the  movements  of  the  association,  and  pro- 
testing against  the  appHcation  making  by  the  latter  to 
obtain  the  sanction  of  their  claim  by  the  government. 
George  Clinton,  then  governor  of  the  state,  was  strongly 
opposed  to  the  transaction,  and  called  the  attention  of 
the  legislature  specially  to  the  subject.  Finally  the 
hopes  of  the  company  were  extinguished  by  the  law  of 
March,  1788,  proposed  by  Egbert  Benson,  then  in  the 
Senate,  declaring  the  pre-emptive  right  to  the  lands  to 
be  vested  in  the  state,  and  authorizing  the  strongest 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


33 


measures  of  force  to  be  used  by  the  Executive,  in  the 
removal  of  all  intruders  from  the  lands.* 

Before  proceeding  farther  with  these  explanations, 
not  as  foreign  to  the  purposes  of  this  biography  as  they 
may  seem  at  the  present  stage  of  the  narrative,  it  must 
be  noted,  and  the  fact  should  be  remembered,  that  Red- 
Jacket  was  a  party  to  the  transaction  with  Colonel 
Livingston  and  his  associates,  as  also  was  the  Corn- 
planter.  The  importance  of  keeping  the  name  of  Red- 
Jacket  in  close  connexion  with  this  subject  will  pre- 
sently appear. 

Meantime,  another  feature  in  the  great  land  operations 
now  under  consideration  must  be  unfolded.  It  has 
just  been  seen  that,  in  the  year  1786,  Massachusetts 
acquired  from  the  state  of  New- York  the  pre-emptive 
right  to  a  large  tract  of  the  Indian  lands,  comprehended 
in  the  Seneca  country  proper.  This  pre-emptive  title 
to  all  the  lands  claimed  by,  or  accorded  to,  JNIassachu- 
setts,  lying  east  of  the  Genesee  river,  was  sold  by  the 
legislature  of  that  state,  in  the  following  year,  to  Oliver 
Phelps  and  Nathaniel  Gorham,  for  the  sum  of  one  million 
of  dollars,  payable  in  three  annual  instalments.  In  the 
next  subsequent  year, — that  is,  in  the  summer  of  1788, — 
Mr.  Phelps  led  an  expedition  of  colonists  into  the  newly 
purchased  territory,  and  causing  a  council  of  the  Six 


*  In  order  that  not  even  tho  color  of  injustice  toward  the  lessees  might  re- 
main, the  legislature,  five  years  afterward,  made  a  grant  to  them  of  a  district, 
of  country,  ten  miles  square,  in  the  northern  part  of  tho  state,  and  subsequently 
they  received  grants  of  several  large  tracts  in  the  Genesee  countrj-,  from  Phelps 
and  Gorham. 


5 


':■  !l' 


!       I, 


f 


;    HI 


I       '•! 


ill' 


I    'i 


34  LIFE  AND  TIMES,  &c. 

Nations  to  be  convened  at  Buffalo  Creek,  in  the  month 
of  July,  succeeded  in  purchasing  the  fee  of  the  soil,  for 
tlie  small  sum  of  five  thousand  dollars  in  hand  paid, — 
one  half  in  cash,  and  the  other  in  goods, — subject  to 
an  annual  rent  of  five  hundred  dollars  forever.  The 
deed  to  Phelps  and  Gorham  was  dated  on  the  8th  of 
July,  1788,  and  bears  the  signature  of  Sha-go-yagh- 
wat-ha,*  or  Red-Jacket.  Joseph  Brant  was  also  a  party 
to  the  deed. 

As  the  lease  of  their  whole  territory,  executed  the 
preceding  year  by  the  Indians  to  Colonel  Livingston 
and  his  associates,  had  not  yet  been  declared  invalid  by 
the  government  of  the  state,  the  sale  to  Phelps  and 
Gorham  rendered  a  farther  arrangement  with  the  former 
parties  necessary.  Accordingly,  in  the  course  of  the 
same  season,  a  second  instrument  was  executed  to 
Colonel  Livingston  and  his  company,  setting  forth  the 
sale  to  Phelps  and  Gorham,  and  for  that  reason  re- 
linquishing to  the  former  one  half  of  the  annual  rent  of 
two  thousand  dollars  per  annum,  for  the  period  of  nine 
hundred  and  ninety-nine  years.  And  here,  again,  it  is 
necessary  to  note  the  fact  that  Red-Jacket  was  a  party 
to  this  third  document,  connected  with  other  papers  and 
transactions,  equivalent  to  an  entire  sale  of  the  territory 
of  his  people  within  the  state  of  New- York. 


ii 


i      )  ; 


*  Thus  spelt  by  the  person  who  wrrote  the  name  to  which  Red-Jacket  placed 
his  mark. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Indian  relations  of  the  United  States  in  1790— Bad  feeling  of  the  Senecas — 
Council  at  Tioga  Point — Red-Jacket— Colonel  Pickering — Hendiick — Red- 
Jacket  revives  tliu  land  controversy — His  speech — Extraordinary  Indian  cere- 
mony— Visit  of  Cornplantcr  and  Big  Tree  to  Philadelphia — Appeal  to  General 
Washington — Duplicity  of  Cornplantcr — The  probable  motive — Kindness  of 
Washington  to  the  deputation— Mission  of  Colonel  Proctor — Council  at  Butfalo 
Creek — Salutatory  speech  of  Red-Jacket — British  interference — Attempt  to 
remove  the  council  to  Niagara — Resisted  by  Proctor — Farther  difficulties — In- 
termeddling of  the  British  officers — Council  broken  up — Interposition  of  the 
women,  and  proceedings  resumed — Red-Jacket's  speech  for  the  women — 
Proctor's  mission  abruptly  terminated  by  Colonel  Gordon — Colonel  Pickering 
holds  a  council  at  Painted  Post — Influence  of  the  Indian  women — Favorable 
result  of  that  council — Propositions  for  aiding  the  Indians  in  the  arts  and  mtm- 
ners  of  civilization. 

In  the  year  1790  the  Indian  relations  of  the  United 
States  were  in  a  most  unhappy,  if  not  unfavorable,  con- 
dition. A  savage  war,  fierce  and  bloody,  was  raging 
upon  the  frontier  settlements  of  Pennsylvania  and  Vir- 
ginia ;  and  the  strong  confederated  Indian  nations  in- 
habiting the  country  of  the  great  lakes,  even  to  the 
regions  beyond  the  Mississippi,  acting  under  the  advice 
of  the  officers  of  the  British  Indian  Department,  and 
encouraged  in  various  ways  by  the  government  of 
Canada,  were  gathering  to  the  contest  with  a  determi- 
nation that  the  Ohio  river  should  form  the  ultimate 
boundary  between  the  United  States  and  the  Indian 
country.     All  the  sympathies  of  the  Senecas,  who  had 


5l> 


i 


i    ill      ;\ 


'  i'  '.  i 


!1 


m 


■  ■    ,  ■   .j 

:   1 
'  ill 

liU 

hi 


ii:?;i; 


36 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


never  been  quite  satisfied  with  the  provisions  of  the 
treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix,  were  with  their  brethren  of  the 
west,  as  also  were  not  a  few  of  their  warriors  ;  aUhough 
Cornplanter,  their  principal  chief,  remained  unshaken 
in  his  friendship  for  the  United  States.  Still,  the  popular 
feeling  among  his  nation  was  rather  hostile  ;  threatening, 
in  fact,  open  and  general  hostilities.  Unluckily,  just 
at  this  inauspicious  conjuncture,  the  Senecas  found  fresh 
cause  of  exasperation  in  the  murder  of  two  of  their 
people  by  some  of  the  white  border-men  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  effect  of  this  outrage  had  well  nigh  pro- 
voked an  immediate  outbreak,  but  the  government  of 
the  United  States  lost  not  a  moment  in  disavowing  the 
act,  and  in  the  adoption  of  measures  to  bring  the  mur- 
derers to  punishment,  by  the  offer  of  a  large  reward  for 
their  apprehension.  A  conference  with  the  Six  Nations 
was  also  invited  at  Tioga  Point,  at  which  Colonel  Timo- 
thy Pickering,  who  then  resided  at  Wyoming,  was  com- 
missioned to  attend  on  the  part  of  the  United  States. 
The  council-fire  was  kindled  on  the  16th  of  November, 
and  was  kept  burning  until  the  23d.  Among  the  nations 
present,  either  collectively  or  by  rcpreseiitation,  were 
the  Senecas,  Oneidas,  Onondagas,  Ca3'Ligas,  a  small 
party  of  Chippewas,  and  also  several  of  the  Stockbridge 
Indians,  among  whom  was  their  veteran  captain,  and  the 
faithful  friend  of  the  United  States,  Ilendrick  Apamaut. 
The  Indians  were  in  a  higl:  state  of  excitement  on  their 
arrival,  in  regard  to  the  outrage  for  the  consideration  of 
which  they  had  been  convoked,  and  which  was  deeply 
felt.     The  chiefs  who  took  the  most  active  part  in  the 


111! 


I  t 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


37 


proceedings  of  this  council  were  Red-Jacket,  Farmer's- 
Brother,  Little  Billy,  Hendrick,  and  Fish-Carrier,  a 
very  old  and  distinguished  warrior  of  the  Cayugas. 
Old  Hendrick  made  a  very  eloquent  and  pathetic  ad- 
dress to  the  commissioner,  in  the  shape  of  an  appeal  in 
behalf  of  his  people,  reminding  him  of  their  strong  and 
uniform  attachment  to  the  United  States  during  the  war 
of  the  revolution,  of  the  hardships  they  underwent,  and 
the  losses  they  had  sustained  during  that  war,  and  com- 
plaining bitterly  of  the  neglect  with  which  they  had  been 
treated  since  the  peace,  in  consequence,  as  he  sup- 
posed, of  the  small  number  to  which  they  had  been  re- 
duced. In  referring  to  their  services  in  the  field,  he  used 
these  expressions  : — 

"  We  fought  by  your  side, — our  blood  was  mingled  with 
yours, — and  the  bones  of  our  warriors  still  remain  on  the  field 
of  battle,  as  so  many  monuments  of  our  attachment  to  the 
United  States."* 

Cornplanter  was  not  present  at  tliis  council,  and  the 
principal  speaker  was  Red-Jacket,  whose  efforts  pro- 
duced a  deep  effect  upon  liis  people.  Still,  by  a  wise 
and  well-adapted  speech,  Colonel  Pickering  succeeded 
in  allaying  the  excitement  of  the  Indians, — dried  their 
tears,  and  wiped  out  the  blood  that  had  been  shed. 

But  no  sooner  had  that  important  business  been  dis- 
posed of  than  Red-Jacket  introduced  the  subject  of 
their  lands,  and  the  purchase  of  Phelps  and  Gorhani. 

*  Tlio  Stockbridgo  luJiaiis  sullcrud  vei-y  sovcroly  in  the  buttle  ofWIiiti;  I'laiiis. 


1 


I  ■■; 


88 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


In  a  set  speech  to  Colonel  Pickering  he  inveighed 
against  the  procedure,  (although,  as  has  been  seen,  he 
had  himself  been  a  party  to  it,)  and  declared  that  the 
Indians  had  been  defrauded.  It  was  not,  he  said,  a  sale 
which  they  had  contemplated,  or  which  they  had 
stipulated  to  make  to  those  gentlemen,  but  only  a  lease ; 
and  the  consideration,  he  declared,  was  to  have  been 
ten  thousand  dollars,  together  with  an  annual  rent  of  one 
thousand  dollars,  instead  of  five  thousand  dollars  and  a 
rent  of  five  hundred,  which  only  had  been  paid  to  them. 
He  declared  that  after  the  bargain  was  concluded  in 
council  at  Buffalo  Creek,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Kirkland,*  Colo- 
nelJohn  Butler, +  and  Captain  Brant,  were  designated  by 
the  Indians  to  draw  up  the  papers.  The  Indians  sup- 
posed all  to  have  been  done  correctly  until  the  year 
following,  when  they  went  to  Canandaigua  to  receive 
their  pay.  Expecting  to  receive  ten  thousand  dollars, 
they  were  told  that  five  thousand  only  was  their  due. 


"  When  wc  took  tho  money  anil  shared  it,  we  had  but  about 
a  dollar  a  piece."  "Mr.  Street  !"f  said  the  chief,  "  you  very 
well  know  that  all  that  our  lands  came  to  was  but  the  price  of 
a  few  hogsheads  of  tobacco."  "  Gentlemen  who  stand  by," 
(addressing  tho  c:entlemen  in  attendance  with  Colonel  Pick- 
ering,) "  do  not  think  hard  of  what  has  been  said.  At  the  time 
of  the  treaty,  twenty  brooches  would  not  buy  half  a  loaf  of 


*  Tho  celebrated  inissionarj'  to  thc^  Indians, 

t  Of  tho  British  Indian  DepartmcMt— tho  invader  of  Wyoming,  then  residing 
at  Niagara. 

{  A  gentleman  then  connected  with  tho  Indian  Department,  who  wa»  present 
at  tho  treaty  witli  Phelps  and  (iurham,  and  who  was  now  with  Col.  Pickering. 


W     ! 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


39 


bread,  so  that,  when  we  returned  home,  there  was  not  a  single 
spot  of  silver  about  us.  Mr.  Phelps  did  not  purchase,  but  he 
leased  the  land.  We  opened  our  ears,  and  understood  that 
the  land  was  leased.  This  happened  to  us  from  our  not  know- 
ing papers." 


l\'\       ' 


The  speech  under  immediate  consideration,  is  the  earli- 
est of  Sa-go-ye-wat-ha's  forensic  efforts  of  which  there 
is  any  written  memorial,  nor  does  it  promise  much  either 
for  the  eloquence,  genius,  or  talent  of  the  orator.  On  the 
contrary,  it  is  remarkable  for  its  tamcness,  rather  than 
for  spirit  or  mental  power, — sinking  indeed  below  the 
dead  level  of  mediocrity.  But  aside  from  the  fact  that 
his  theme,  for  the  most  part,  was  not  inspiring, — it  being 
chiefly  a  dry  recapitulation  of  business  transactions, — 
there  is  reason  to  believe  that  great  injustice  was  done 
him  by  the  interpreter.  A  gentleman,  now  venerable  in 
years,  who  was  present  at  the  treaty,*  asserts  that  both 
in  matter  and  manner,  Red-Jacket,  during  the  sittings 
of  the  council,  spoke  with  extraordinary  eloquence  and 
power.  Much  depends  upon  the  interpreter  in  the  pre- 
servation of  Indian  eloquence.  If  he  l)e  a.  dull  and 
prosaic  man,  without  genius  himself,  and  incapable  of 
appreciating  the  glowjng  thoughts,  the  burning  words, 
and  the  brilliant  metaphors  of  his  principal,  the  most 
eloquent  and  stirring  passages, — evidently  such  from 
the  impassioned  manner  of  their  delivery,  and  their 
kindling  effect  upon  those  understanding  the  language  to 


'  .  1 


]i 


*  Thomn«  Morris,  Esq.,  who  has  favored  the  author  witli  his  written  recollec- 
tiong  of  that  council. 


'    !  <  li 


!  !i 


40 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


whom  they  are  addressed, — will  lall  from  the  interpre- 
ter's lips  as  insipid  as  it  is  possible  to  render  language 
by  the  process  of  dilution.*  Hence,  from  the  acknow- 
ledged genius  of  Red-Jacket,  and  the  known  powers  of 
his  eloquence  upon  his  auditors,  this  speech  to  Colonel 
Pickering  is  to  be  received  rather  as  a  poor  paraphrase 
by  a  bad  interpreter,  than  as  the  speech  of  the  orator 
himself.  The  following  is  the  best  passage  it  contains. 
After  recapitulating  his  own  statement  of  the  negotiation 
with  Phelps  and  Gorham,  and  asserting  the  anxiety  of 
his  people  to  appeal  to  Congress  for  a  redress  of  their 
grievances  in  this  transaction,  the  orator  proceeded : — 


"  Now,  BuoTiiERS,  the  Thirteen  States,  you  must  open 
your  ears.  You  know  what  has  hapjiened  respecting  our  lands. 
You  told  us,  from  this  time  the  chain  of  friendship  should  be 
brightened.  Now,  brothers,  we  liave  begun  to  brighten  the 
chain,  and  wc  will  follow  the  footsteps  of  our  forefathers.  We 
will  take  those  steps,  that  we  may  sit  easy  and  choose  where 
and  how  large  our  seats  should  be.  The  reason  we  send  this 
message  is,  that  the  President,  who  is  over  all  the  Thirteen 
States,  may  make  our  seats  easy.  We  do  it  that  the  chain  of 
friendship  may  be  brightened  with  the  Thirteen  States,  as  well 
as  with  the  British  ;  that  we  may  pass  from  one  to  the  other 

*  "  I  havo  heard  an  old  Indian  Snchoni  sppuk  witli  niucli  vivacity  and  elocu- 
tion, sn  that  the  speaker  pleased  and  moved  his  audience  with  the  manner  of 
delivering  his  discourse,  which,  however,  as  it  afterwards  came  from  the  interpre- 
ter, disappointed  us  in  our  expectations.  After  the  speaker  had  employed  a  con- 
sideralile  time  in  haranguing  with  much  elocution,  the  interpreter  often  explained 
the  whole  by  one  single  sentence.  1  believe  the  speaker,  in  that  time,  embellished 
and  advonced  his  figures,  that  they  might  have  their  full  force  on  their  imagina- 
tion, whilo  the  interpreter  contented  himself  with  the  Ronse,  in  as  few  words  as 
it  could  bo  expressed." — Colden's  Six  Nations. 


"iv  i 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


41 


unmolested.     We  wish  to  be  under  the  ])rotection  of  the  Thir- 
teen States  as  well  as  of  tlie  British." 


During  the  progress  of  the  negotiations  with  Colonel 
Pickering  at  this  council,  an  episode  was  enacted,  of 
which  some  account  may  be  excused  in  this  place,  as 
an  illustration  of  Indian  character  and  manners.  It  was 
in  this  year,  (1790,)  that  Robert  Morris,  of  Philadel- 
phia,— the  great  financier  of  the  revolution, — purchased 
from  the  state  of  Massachusetts  the  pre-emptive  right 
to  that  portion  of  her  territory  in  Western  New- York, 
that  had  not  been  sold  to  Phelps  and  Gorham,  viz  :  the 
entire  tract  bounded  on  the  north  by  Lake  Ontario,  on 
the  south  by  the  Pennsylvania  line,  on  the  east  by  the 
Genesee  river,  and  on  the  west  by  the  Niagara.  Pre- 
paratory to  the  negotiations  which  Mr.  Morris  well  knew 
he  should  be  obliged  to  hold  witii  the  Indians,  and  for 
the  general  management  of  his  concerns  in  that  country, 
his  son  Thomas  had  taken  up  his  residence  at  Canan- 
daigua,  and  was  diligently  cultivating  an  acquaintance 
with  the  Indians.  In  this  he  was  successful,  and  he 
soon  became  popular  among  them.  He  was  in  attend- 
ance with  Colonel  Pickering  at  Tioga  Point,  where  the 
Indians  determined  to  adopt  him  into  the  Seneca  nation, 
and  Red-Jacket  bestowed  upon  him  the  name  he  him- 
self had  borne  previous  to  his  elevation  to  the  dignity  of 
a  Sachem, — Otetiani — "  Always  Ready."  The  occasion 
of  which  they  availed  themselves  to  perform  the  cere- 
mony of  conferring  upon  young  Morris  his  new  name, 
was  a   religious  observance,  when  the  whole  sixteen 

6 


.i  .: 


i 


>  i 


!!■        '. 


43 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


hundred  Indians  present   at  the  treaty,  united    in    an 
offering  to   the    moon,   then  being   at   her   full.      The 
ceremonies  were  performed  in  the  evening.     It  was  a 
clear  night,  and  the  moon  shone  with  uncommon  bril- 
liancy.    The  host  of  Indians,  and  their  neophyte,  were 
all  seated  upon  the  ground  in  an  extended  circle,  on  one 
side  of  which  a  large  fire  was  kept  burning.     The  aged 
Cayuga  chieftain,  i'ish-Carrier,  who  was  held  in  exalted 
veneration  for  his  wisdom,  and  who  had  been  greatly 
distinguished  for  his  bravery  from  his  youth  up,  officia- 
ted as  the  high  priest  of  the  occasion, — making  a  long 
speech  to  the  luminary,  occasionally  throwing  tobacco 
into  the  fire  as  incense.     On  the  conclusion  of  the  ad- 
dress, the  whole  assembly  prostrated  themselves  upon 
the  bosom  of  their  parent  earth,  and  a  grunting  sound  of 
approbation  was  uttered  from  mouth  to  mouth  around 
the  entire  circle.     At  a  short  distance  from  the  fire  a 
post  had  been  planted  in  the  earth  ;  intended  to  repre- 
sent the  stake  of  torture  to  which  captives  are  bound  for 
execution.     After  the  ceremonies  in  favor  of  JNIadame 
Luna  had  been  ended,  they  commenced  a  war-dance 
around  the  post,  and  the  spectacle  must  have  been  as  pic- 
turesque as  it  was  animating  and  wild.  The  young  braves 
engaged  in  the  dance  were  naked  excepting  the  breech- 
clout  about  their  loins.     They  were  painted  frightlully, 
their  backs  being  chalked  white,  with  irregular  streaks  of 
red,  denotinf?  the  streaming  of  blood.     Frequently  would 
they  cease  from  dancing  while  one  of  their  number  ran 
to  the  fire,  snatching  thence  a  blazing  stick,  placed  there 
for  that  purpose,  which  he  would  thrust  at  the  post,  as 


,L!    m 


OF  REDJACKET. 


43 


though  inflicting  torture  upon  a  prisoner.     In  the  course 
of  the  dance  they  sang  their  songs,  and  made  the  forests 
ring  with  their  wild  screams  and  shouts,  as  they  boasted 
of  their  deeds  of  war  and  told  the  number  of  scalps 
they  had  respectively  taken,  or  which  had  been  taken  by 
their  nation.     During  the  dance  those  engaged  in  it,  as 
did  others  also,  partook  freely  of  unmixed  rum,  and  by 
consequence  of  the  natural  excitement  of  the  occasion, 
and  the  artificial  excitement  of  the  liquor,  the  festival 
had  w"^    nlj^       'rned  out  a  tragedy.      ■    happened  that 
among  the  dancers  was   an  Oneida  warrior,  who,  in 
striking  the  post,  boasted  of  the  number  of  scalps  taken 
by  his  nation  during  the  war  of  the  revolution.     Now 
the  Oneidas,  it  will  be  recollected,  had  sustained  the 
cause  of  the  colonies  in  that  contest,  while  the  rest  of 
the   Iroquois  confederacy  had    espoused    that  of   the 
crown.     The  boasting  of  the  Oneida  warrior,  therefore, 
was  like  striking   a   spark  into  a  keg  of  gunpowder. 
The  ire  of  the  Senecas  was  kindled  in  an  instant,  and 
they  in  turn  boasted  of  the  number  of  scalps  taken  by 
them  from  the  Oneidas  in  that  contest.     They  moreover 
taunted  the  Oneidas  as  cowards.      Quick  as  lightning 
the  hands  of  the  latter  were  upon  their  weapons,  and  in 
turn  the  knives  and  tomahawks  of  the  Senecas  began  to 
ghtter  in  the  moon-beams,  as  they  were  hastily  drawn 
forth.     For  an  instant  it  was  a  scene  of  anxious  and 
almost  breathless  suspense,  a  death  struggle  seeming 
inevitable,  when  the  storm  was  hushed  by  the  interposi- 
tion of  old  Fish-Carrier,  who  rushed  forward,  and  strik- 
ing tlie  post  witli  violence,  exclaimed  : — 


i 


i 


Mi: 


44 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


"  You  are  all  of  you  a  parcel  of  boys  :  When  you  have  at- 
tained my  age,  and  performed  the  warlike  deeds  that  I  have 
performed,  you  may  boast  v  haL  you  have  done  :  not  till 
then !" 

Saying  which  he  threw  down  the  post,  put  an  end 
to  the  dance,  and  caused  the  assembly  to  retire.*  This 
scene,  in  its  reaUty,  must  have  been  one  of  absorbing  and 
peculiar  interest.  An  assembly  of  nearly  two  thousand 
inhabitants  of  the  forest,  grotesquely  clad  in  skins  and 
strouds,  with  shining  ornaments  of  silver,  and  their  coarse 
raven  hair  falling  over  their  shoulders,  and  playing 
wildly  in  the  wind  as  it  swept  past,  sighing  mournfully 
among  the  giant  branches  of  the  trees  abo\e, — such  a 
group,  gathered  in  a  broad  circle  in  an  "  opening"  of  the 
wilderness,  the  starry  canopy  of  heaven  glittering  above 
them,  the  moon  casting  her  silver  mantle  around  their 
dusky  forms, — and  a  large  fire  blazing  in  the  midst  of 
them, — before  which  they  were  worldng  their  spells,  and 
performing  their  savage  rites, — must  have  presented  a 
spectacle  of  long  and  vivid  remembrance. 

In  December  of  the  same  year,  a  deputation  of  the 
Senecas,  consisting  of  the  Cornplanter,  Half-Town  and 
Great  Tree,  visited  Philadelphia,  then  the  seat  of  the 
federal  government,  for  the  purpose  of  again  remon- 
strating against  die  hardship  of  the  treaty  of  Fort  Stan- 
wix,  and  of  reclaiming,  if  possible,  a  portion  of  the  terri- 

*  MS.  recollections  of  Thomas  Morris.  Mr.  M.  was  known  among  the  Indians 
by  the  name  conferred  upon  him  on  this  occasion,  for  many  years.  After  hig 
marriage,  his  wife  was  called  by  themOtetiani  squaw,  and  his  children,  Otetiani 
pappooses. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


45 


tory  ceded  away  by  that  treaty.  It  was  on  the  occasion 
of  that  visit  that  Cornplanter  delivered  the  speech  to 
General  Washington,  then  President  of  the  Urited 
Stales,  cited  in  the  preceding  chapter.*  They  wished, 
in  particular,  to  obtain  a  restoration  of  the  territory, 
bordering  upon  Pennsylvania,  then  occupied  by  Half- 
Town  and  his  people,  who  weie,  and  had  been  from 
the  first,  dissatisfied  with  the  treaty. 

In  the  course  of  his  appeal,  speaking  in  reference  to 
Half-Town's  clan,  Cornplanter  exclaimed  with  moving 
earnestness : — 

"  They  grew  out  of  that  land,  and  their  fathers  grew  out  of 
it,  and  they  cannot  be  persuaded  to  part  with  it.  It  is  a  very 
little  piece.  We  therefore  entreat  you  to  restore  to  us  this 
Httle  piece  of  land." 

The  appeal  is  as  simj''"'  and  touching  as  that  of  Lot 
to  be  allowed  to  flee  into  z^oar.  "  Is  it  not  a  little  city  ?" 
But  such  has  not  been  the  course  of  events.  Vain  are 
the  appeals  of  Indians  to  the  pale  faces,  for  a  restora- 
tion of  territory, — no  matter  how  it  may  have  been  ac- 
quired. Yet,  in  the  case  under  consideration,  the  In- 
dians had  less  cause  of  complaint  than  usual,  since  the 
treaty   of   Fort   Stanwix  could    not  justly  have   been 

deemed  oppressive. 

But  the  provisions  of  the  Fort  Stanwix  treaty  did  not 
constitute  the  entire  burden  of  Cornplanter's  remon- 
strances.   He,  too,  complained  of  the  conduct  of  Phelps 

*  See  the  entire  speech  in  the  sketch  of  Cornplanter's  life,  toward  the  close  of 
the  volume. 


I    1 


\  ;   • 


11 H 


'i"-i 


l?M 


i  -1 


« 


.ilti 


■jl 


ill 


■I 


;=§! 


.'PI    f  'i' 


J..;.. 

ii 

i' 
1 

1 

*■ 

1; 

I 

'i 

*'i'          1 

j^;l  .  ', 

I 

M 

\1L 

46 


LIFE  AND  TLv    S 


and  Gorham,  imputing  the  same  frfx  that  had  been 
charged  by  Red-Jacket, — and  adding  that  Street  was 
to  receive  from  Phelps  a  grant  of  land  ten  miles  square, 
for  his  agency  in  the  deception  practised  upon  the  In- 
dians. This  feature  in  the  conduct  of  Cornplanter,  con- 
sidering the  general  fiiirness  and  integrity  of  his  cha- 
racter, as  exhibited  in  his  intercourse  with  the  whites 
subsequent  to  the  revolutionary  war,  is  not  of  easy  ex- 
plication. He,  like  Red-Jacket,  had  been  a  party  to  the 
sale  of  territory  to  Phelps  and  Gorham  ;  and  when  the 
subject  was  afterward  brought  before  Congress,  the  re- 
port of  Mr.  Butler,  from  the  Committee  of  Indian  Affairs, 
supplied  the  most  ample  testimony,  from  gentlemen  of 
irreproachable  veracity,  that  the  said  purchase  had  been 
made  in  the  most  fair  and  honorable  manner,  and  that 
the  papers  had  been  thoroughly  and  truly  explained  to 
the  Indians,  by  whom  the  terms  were  perfectly  under- 
stood. The  charges  of  fraud,  therefore,  first  publicly 
made  by  Red-Jacket  in  his  speech  to  Colonel  Pickering, 
and  afterward  repeated,  as  has  been  seen,  by  Corn- 
planter,  fell  to  the  ground.  •  But  how  came  these 
chiefs, — the  Cornplanter  being  the  head  of  his  nation, — 
to  prefer  the  charges  ?  May  it  not  have  been  that  Red- 
Jacket  was  even  then  plotting  to  supplant  his  principal 
in  the  affections  of  his  people,  by  inducing  them  to  be- 
lieve that  he  was  more  their  friend,  and  a  better  patriot, 
than  his  rival  ?  And  may  not  the  latter  have  taken  up 
the  false  charge,  and  repeated  it  to  General  Washington, 
for  the  purpose  only  of  sustaining  himself,  and  circum- 


i 


m 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


47 


venting  the  crafty  deniagoguc,  whose  machinations  were 
ultimately  but  too  successful  ? 

The  bearing  of  Washington  toward  these  sons  of  the 
forest  was  such  as  to  allay  the  unpleasant  feelings 
under  which  they  arrived  in  Philadelphia,  and  to  send 
them  away  in  good  humor.  Nay,  the  Cornplanter  was 
engaged  to  accompany  Colonel  Proctor  on  a  friendly 
mission  to  the  country  of  the  Miamis,  for  the  purpose  of 
bringing  the  hostile  Indians  to  reasonable  terms  of 
peace.  This  mission  was  not  undertaken  until  the  fol- 
lowing spring,  when  Colonel  Proctor  proceeded  into  the 
Seneca  country,  to  join  Cornplanter.  Meeting  with  him 
at  his  own  town,  situated  upon  Oil  Creek,  one  of  the 
upper  tributaries  of  the  Alleghany  river,  it  was  found 
necessary  to  convoke  a  grand  council  of  the  Six  Nations 
at  Buffalo  Creek,  before  they  could  safely  proceed  to  the 
country  of  the  hostile  nations.  The  fact  was,  that  the 
repulse  of  General  Harmar's  expedition  in  the  preceding 
autumn  had  greatly  emboldened  the  hostile  Indians, 
with  whose  cause  those  four  of  the  Six  Nations  which  had 
been  engaged  in  the  war  of  the  revolution  on  the  side  of 
the  crown,  especially  the  Senecas,  strongly  sympathized. 
Numbers  of  their  young  warriors,  disregarding  the  re- 
straints, feeble  at  best,  of  their  own  principal  chiefs, 
were  in  the  ranks  of  the  enemy,  and  it  was  only  with 
the  greatest  difficulty,  during  the  whole  of  that  border 
conflict,  that  the  greater  part  of  the  Six  Nations  were 
kept  from  joining  their  brethren.  Just  about  this  time, 
also,  the  Senecas  had  again  been  exasperated  by  the 
murder  of  several  of  their  people,  who  had  given  no 


i  < 


11 


^ 


; 


II 

'1 

> 

i 

1      i '' 

'      i\                           1 

i 

^'';::lj 

i: 

I:      1    I    i  •  ?  » 

' 

!  11,1 

1  f 

J 

:^iyii 

lii 


I 


m      1: 


48 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


offence,  by  some  of  the  Pennsylvania  borderers  living  at 
Big  Beaver  Creek,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Pittsburgh. 
Hence  Cornplanter  and  Colonel  Proctor  were  obliged  to 
proceed  with  the  utmost  circumspection ;  and  a  grand 
council  at  Buffalo  being  demanded  before  the  nations 
would  allow  Cornplanter  to  proceed  to  the  west,  the 
measure  was  acquiesced  in,  though  attended  by  great  in- 
convenience, and  necessarily  causing  a  long  delay. 

It  has  been  necessary  to  glance  at  this  mission  of 
Colonel  Proctor  and  the  Cornplanter,  for  the  reason  that 
the  leading  personage  of  the  present  memoir,  Red- 
Jacket,  figured  conspicuously  in  the  council  at  Buffalo 
Creek,  at  which  place  Cornplanter  and  Colonel  Proctor 
arrived  on  the  27th  of  April,  1791.  The  council-fire 
had  been  burning  several  days,  in  anticipation  of  their 
presence,  and  many  of  the  principal  chiefs  were  already 
there, — among  whom  were  Farmer' s-Brother,  Young- 
King  and  Red-Jacket, — the  former  two  being  dressed 
in  the  uniforms  of  British  colonels.  Red-Jacket  was  a 
much  younger  chief  than  the  others,  but  had  now,  it  was 
evident,  become  a  man  of  consideration.  Colonel  Proc- 
tor, in  his  diary,*  mentions  him  as  "  the  great  speaker 
and  prince  of  the  Turtle  tribe."t  The  Colonel  was 
received  with  unusual  ceremony.  The  Indians  had 
mounted  a  two-pounder  upon  logs  at  the  porch  of  the 
council-house,  heavily  loaded,  which  they  discharged  on 
the  approach  of  their  guests,  but  to  the  no  small  peril  of 
all  who  were  near,  since  the  explosion  up-threw  the  gun 

*  Vide  Proctor's  Journal,  Indian  State  Papers,  vol.  i.  p.  155. 
t  An  Error.     Red-Jacket  was  of  the  Wolf  tribe. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


49 


from  its  position,  and  sadly  deranged  its  fixtures.  Red- 
Jacket,  or,  as  his  people  were  then  accustomed  to  call 
him,  "  the  Young  Prince  of  the  Wolf  Tribe,"  had  been 
designated  by  the  council  to  receive  the  Colonel  and 
Cornplanter,  and  as  they  entered  the  council-house,  the 
orator  rose  and  welcomed  the  former  in  the  following 
speech  : — 

••'  Brother  :  Listen  !  It  is  usual  for  us  to  speak ;  and  to 
you  we  do  it  as  to  a  brother  that  has  been  absent  a  long  time. 
Now  wc  all  speak  to  you,  and  to  our  Head  Warrior  that  left 
us  last  fall : — and  we  thank  the  Great  Spirit  for  his  arul  your 
safe  aiTi\'al  here,  as  you  are  together,  hand  in  hand,  fro  a  Ho- 
nandaganius,*  upon  great  business. 

"  You  have  travelled  long,  with  tears  in  your  eyjf",  upon  ac- 
count of  the  bad  roads,  and  bad  season  of  the  y.  '•r.  Bes'-^es 
the  disturbances  between  the  bad  Indians  and  our  brothei :  'he 
white  peojile,  every  thing  has  been  trying  to  preveif  /our 
coining,  and  to  stop  your  business,  and  make  you  lose  your 
way. 

"  Thus  the  big  waters  might  have  stoppea  your  coming; 
and  the  wars  might  have  stopped  you ;  and  sickness  might 
have  stopped  you  ;  for  we  cannot  know  what  is  to  happen  un- 
til it  comes  upon  us.  So,  therefore,  we  thank  the  Great  Spirit 
who  hns  preserved  you  from  such  dangers  ti  at.  might  have 
hindered  us  from  hearing  of  the  good  news  which  you  and 
our  head  warrior  have  opened  to  us.  But  how  could  it  be 
that  any  thing  bad  could  have  happened  to  you,  while  you 
have  such  important  business  to  transact,  as  we  understand 
you  have  come  on  1 

"  You  must  now  wipe  away  tho-e  '  ars  occasioned  by  all  the 
great  dangers  you  have  come  through.  And  now  we  set  you 
upon  a  seat  where  you  can  sit  up  straight, — and  a  seat  where 
you  are  secure  from  the  fesrs  of  your  enemies  ; — where  you 

*■  General  Washington. 

7 


1 1 


I  1 


1      .  f 


b.  n 


60 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


II  I 


can  look  round  and  see  all  your  friends  and  brothers  in  peace. 
Besides,  you  have  como  along  with  your  heart  mtil  your  throat 
stopped  up,  to  secure  all  that  you  had  to"  say  in  your  body. 
But  now  we  open  your  heart  witli  your  brothers'  hands,  and 
we  run  our  fingers  through  to  open  your  mouth,  that  you  may 
speak  clear,  and  not  be  molested.  Your  ears  also  have  been 
stopped  by  Honandaganius  until  you  should  see  your  brothers 
at  this  place,  being  spared  by  the  (Jreat  Sj)irit  to  an-ivo  safe. 

"  Now,  open  your  ears  to  liear  wliat  your  brothers  may  say 
after  you  have  made  your  speech.  This  is,  therefore,  the  com- 
pliment of  the  chiefs  and  head  men  of  Buffalo  Creek,  to  you 
and  our  gi'eat  warrior,  the  Complanter,  and  you  may  each  of 
you  go  on  safely  with  your  business." 


ni    I 


J) 


Cornplnntor  replied  in  behalf  of  Colonel  Proctor 
anil  himself,  and  at  the  close  of"  his  speech,  intended 
merely  as  an  interchange  of  compliments,  Red-Jacket 
advanced  and  presented  the  colonel  \vith  the  belt  which 
he  held  while  delivering  his  salutatory  address. 

But  notwithstanding  the  apparent  frankness  and  cor- 
diality of  this  speech  of  welcome,  the  conduct  of  Red- 
Jacket,  even  during  the  lirst  evening's  conl'erence,  was 
marked  by  extreme  wariness,  giving  evidence  of  dis- 
ingenuousness,  if  not  of  dissimulation.  When  Colonel 
Proctor  stated  *'  that  he  h<ad  been  commissioned  by  Ge- 
♦•  neral  Washington,  the  great  chief  of  the  Thirteen 
•'  Fires,"  Red-.Tacket  remarked  "  that  many  persons 
•*  h.'id  occasionally  come  into  their  country,  who  said 
•'  they  had  also  come  from  the  authority  of  the  Thirteen 
"  Fires,  but  of  the  truth  of  this  they  were  not  always 
"  convinced."  But  the  colonel  afterward  ascertained 
that  Red-Jacket  was  only   playing  a  part   in  liic  ex- 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


•51 


pression  of  his  doubts.  The  orator  and  the  chiefs  at 
the  council  had  been  fully  advised  of  the  colonel's  offi- 
cial character,  by  the  chiefs  who  had  met  him  in  the  in- 
termediate councils,  called  in  some  of  the  Indian  towns 
through  which  he  had  passed  on  his  way  thither.  It 
was  also  ascertained  by  Proctor,  on  tlic  first  evening  of 
his  arrival,  that  Red-Jacket  was  acting  under  tlie  advice 
of  Brant  and  Colonel  John  Butler,  in  order  to  thwart  the 
views  of  the  government  of  the  United  States,  and  if  possi- 
ble frustrate  the  intended  visit  of  Proctor  and  Cornplanter 
to  the  Miamis.  Brant  and  Butler  had  liecn  at  Buflido 
Creek  some  days  before  Proctor's  arrival,  and  after  a 
conference,  the  I'ormcr  had  departed  suddenly  for  the 
country  ot  the  belligerent  Indians,  leaving  Red-Jacket 
to  receive  the  messengers  as  already  stated,  and  enact 
a  part  cast  expressly  for  the  occasion  of  iheir  nr- 
rival.  According  to  certain  intimations  given  by  Cap- 
tain Powell,  an  officer  in  the  British  Inditm  service  who 
had  been  despatched  by  the  commnndant  of  Fort  F.rie  to 
meet  Colonel  Proctor  at  the  Biiflido  Ci)tnicil-h()u.se,  this 
sudden  mission  of  Brant  had  l)een  "directed  from  head- 
quarters ;"  but  whether  reference  was  had  lo  Quebec, 
or  the  fort  at  .Niagara,  does  not  appear. 

The  council  was  luunerously  attended  on  ihc  two 
succeeding  days,  during  which  Colonel  Proctor  read  his 
entire  instructions  to  the  chiefs,  as  also  the  adchess  witii 
which  ht;  was  charged  to  the  hostile  Indians  ol'ilic  wtsi. 
Having  concluded  the  interpretations  of  these  pajx'rs, 
and  informed  the  Indians  of  the  kindness  exercised  by 
the  Great  Father  of  the  Tliirteeii  Fires,  as  luanifcsled 


: 


is 


I 


.1 


62 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


If 


!■! 


m 


lir 


by  the  liberal  concessions  made  to  Cornplanter  during 
his  recent  visit  to  Philadelphia,  Colonel  Proctor  was  sur- 
prised by  a  speech  from  Red-Jacket,  declaring  that  the 
council-fire  must  be  removed  to  the  British  fortress  oi 
Niagara,  to  which  place  he  said  the  colonel  must  accom- 
pany them.  As  a  reason  for  this  proposition,  Red-Jacket 
spoke  of  the  absence  of  several  chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations ; 
adding,  that  in  the  discussion  of  matters  of  such  grave 
importance  he  wished  the  presence  of  the  British  offi- 
cers. "  Captain  Powell,"  he  said,  "  is  alwaj^s  true  to 
"  us,  and  is  with  us  at  every  treaty." 

Conceiving  it  to  be  an  unwarrantable  request,  sanc- 
tioned neither  by  his  principals  nor  his  instructions,  the 
colonel  peremptorily  refused  to  comply  with  it — declaring, 
that  if  the  relations  of  the  chiefs  with  the  officers  of  the 
British  garrison  were  such  that  they  could  not  act  but 
upon  their  counsel  and  advice,  they  must  send  for  those 
officers  to  join  them  at  Buffiilo  Creek.  A  m;irked 
silence  pervaded  the  council  for  some  time  upon  the 
utterance  of  Colonel  Proctor's  refusal;  after  whicli  Red- 
Jacket  and  Farmer's-Brother  successively  addressed 
the  Indians,  and  in  the  end  a  messenger  was  despatched 
to  Niagara,  with  a  request  that  Colonel  Butler  would 
join  their  council  without  delay. 

During  the  three  days  intervening  before  tlie  return  of 
the  messenger.  Colonel  Proctor  was  urging  upon  the 
chiefs  the  importance  of  a  more  rapid  despatch  of  busi- 
ness, that  he  might  resume  his  journey  without  farther 
let  or  hindrance. 

The  object  of  liis  visit  to  the  Six  Nations  was  two- 


I       1 


I!,  i 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


53 


fold, — first,  to  allay,  if  possible,  the  rising  feeling  of  hos- 
tility among  the  Senecas,  and  secure  the  neutrality  of 
the  entire  confederacy ;  and,  secondly,  to  induce  a 
deputation  of  their  chiefs  to  accompany  him  and  tlie 
Cornplanter  into  the  hostile  country,  to  add  their  pur- 
suasions  in  favor  of  peace.  But  Red-Jacket  and  the 
leading  chiefs  were  exceedingly  .idverse,  if  not  to  tlie 
entire  object  of  the  Colonel's  mission,  at  least  to  the 
sending  of  a  deputation  to  accompany  him.  At  first 
they  objected  to  the  distance,  pretending  that  it  was  the 
design  to  take  them  away  to  the  shores  of  the  distant 
ocean, — a  journey  so  long  that  it  would  require  twelve 
months  to  reach  the  point  of  destination.  This  excuse 
having  been  removed,  the  next  objection  interposed  by 
Red-Jacket  was  fear, — a  fear  that  they  would  all  be 
murdered  by  the  Miamis  and  their  confederates.  Ac- 
cordingly, on  the  3d  of  May,  in  reply  to  the  colonel, 
who  continued  to  press  his  business  with  urgency,  Red- 
Jacket  dictated  the  following  address  : — 

"  Tell  him,"  (said  he  to  the  interpreter,)  "  Tell  Colonel 
Proctor  that  some  of  his  language  is  soft,  but  that  other  parts 
of  it  are  too  strong.  The  danger  before  us  is  great.  Our  ene- 
mies are  drunk,  and  they  will  not  hear  what  we  say  like  a  man 
that  is  sober ;  and  we  consider  that,  whatever  number  of  the 
Six  Nations  accompany  I'im,  (Col.  F'roctor,)  will  be  in  the  same 
danger  with  liimselt',  and  it  is  likely  that  we  shall  not  live  long 
when  the  bad  Indians  shall  see  us.  Therefore,  as  it  is  a  busi- 
ness of  such  great  weight  tons,  we  must  take  counsel,  in  order 
to  save  ourselves,  and  liim,  from  falling  by  thtur  hands.  More- 
over, the  Indians  are  not  like  white  men,  for  they  must  think  a 
great  while.     He  (Colonel  I'roctor)  must  therefore  attend  our 


i  , 


h 


;i  I 


M    U 


il',: 


ii 


-5  i 


!«!  ,|« 


r 


"i 


i.r 


il     :    I' 


54 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


councils,  and  look  and  hear  what  we  shall  speak  on  his  busi- 
ness. To-morrow  our  head  men  will  meet  together,  and  try 
what  can  be  done." 

The  plea  of  fear  was  one  that  Red-Jacket  might  very 
possibly  have  interposed  in  all  sincerity ;  but  on  the  part 
of  the  brave  old  Farmer's-Brother,  Young  King,  and  the 
celebrated  Cayuga  cliief,  Fish-Carrier,  with  whom  Red- 
Jacket  was  acting  in  close  consultation,  it  mus.   have 
been  an  artifice  of  dissimulation.     Whatever  might  have 
been  the  fact  with  the  orator,  the  emotion  of  fear  was  a 
stranger  to  the  bosoms  of  the  other  three.     Indeed  the 
pretext  was  transparent.     Colonel  Proctor  had  already 
seen  that  their  opinions  and  conduct  were  to  be  regulated 
by  the  British  agent  and  the  British  officers  only.     At 
least  if  he  had  not  actually  seen  as  much,  he  was  not 
long  left  in  doubt  as  to  the  fact ;  since  Red-Jacket  bad 
scarcely  finished  the  brief  speech  recited  above,  before 
a   messenger  came  from   Colonel  Butler,  inviiing  the 
chiefs  to  meet  him  on  the  lake  shore,  at  a  distance  from 
the  council-fire,  and  not  to  allow  Colonel  Proctor  to  ac- 
company them.     From  that  hour  forwanl,  the  prospect 
of  a  favorable  issue  to  the  colonel's  mission  liccame 
more  and  more  dubious.     It  is  true  tliat  Colonel  Butler 
subsequendy  met  Colonel  Proctor,  and  even  entertained 
him  with  courtesy  ;  but  the  Indians  were  entirely  dis- 
suaded from  lending  him  any  assistance,  or  co-operating 
in  furtherance  of  his  views  ;  while  in  their  conversations 
witli  Colonel  Proctor,  the  British  officers  assumed  tiie 
position  that  no  peace  would,  or  probably  could,  lie  ne- 
gotiated with  the  hostile  Indians,  excepting  through  their 


i;      i 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


55 


mediation.  In  a  word,  it  was  insisted  by  His  Britannic 
Majesty's  officers  that  the  adjustment  of  the  entire  con- 
troversy, and  the  details  of  any  treaty,  with  the  north- 
western Indians,  must  be  left  to  Captain  Brant,  the 
chiefs  at  Buffalo,  and  certain  officers  of  the  British  In- 
dian department  at  Detroit.  And  during  the  whole  of 
these  conversations  and  proceedings,  the  course  of  Red- 
Jacket  was  manifestly  directed  by  the  officers  of  His 
Britannic  Majesty.  Under  these  untoward  circum- 
stances,— asccrtaming,  moreover,  that  Brant  had  taken 
a  considerable  body  of  the  JNIohawk  Indians  with  him 
to  the  Minmis ;  that  the  hostile  Indians  were  receiving 
large  military  suppUes  from  the  British  garrison  at  De- 
troit; that  Colonel  Gordon  was  strengthening  his  de- 
fences at  Niagara ;  and  that  preparations  were  malcing 
for  the  construction  of  another  fortification  on  the  north- 
ern sliore,  near  the  foot  of  Lake  Erie  ;  and  having  also 
been  explicitly  told  by  Young  King,  on  the  evening 
of  ilie  141  h  of  May,  diat  they  would  not  send  a  deputa- 
tion of  their  chiefs  with  him  to  the  Miamis, — Colonel 
Proctor  determined  to  end  farther  procrastination,  and 
his  mission,  at  once.  On  the  same  evening,  therefore, 
he  communicated  this  determination  to  the  Indians,  in  a 
few  brief  but  energetic  words,  in  the  course  of  which  he 
forgot  not  to  intimate  that  his  report  to  the  war-chief  of 
the  Thirteen  Fires*  would  not  be  very  favorable,  and 
probably  would  not  tend  greatly  to  their  fiiture  advan- 
tage.    The  colonel's  decisive  manner  made  a  deep  im- 


^i  il> 


ii\. 
11? 


■m 


.  •  I 


*  General  Knox  wai  at  that  time  Secretary  at  War. 


i 


-56 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


pression  upon  the  Indians,  especially  the  women,  to 
whom  his  words  were  reported,  and  through  whose  in- 
terposition the  progress  of  the  mission  speedily  as- 
sumed a  different  aspect,  promising,  for  the  time,  a  favor- 
able result.  The  story  will  be  related  chieflj''  as  illus- 
trative of  Indian  character,  though  not  disconnected 
with  the  life  of  Red-Jacket. 

Having  heard  the  conversation  between  Colonel  Proc- 
tor and  Young  King,  as  just  recited,  on  the  following 
morning,  being  the  14th  of  May,  the  elders  of  the  In- 
dian women  repaired  to  Colonel  Proctor's  lodge,  where 
a  number  of  chiefs  were  present,  and  addressed  him  in 
the  following  manner : — 

"Brother:  The  Great  Spirit  has  Gpared  us  until  a  new 
day  to  talk  together :  for,  since  you  came  here  from  General 
Washington,  you,  and  our  uncles  the  sachems,  have  been 
■  counselling  together.  Moreover,  your  sisters,  the  women, 
have  taken  the  same  into  great  consideration,  because  that  you 
and  our  sachems  have  said  so  much  about  it.  Now,  that  is  the 
reason  why  we  have  come  to  say  something  to  you,  and  to  tell 
you  that  the  Great  Spirit  hath  preserved  you,  and  that  you 
ought  to  hear  and  listen  to  what  we,  women,  shall  speak,  as 
well  as  to  the  sachems ;  for  we  arc  the  owners  of  this  land, — and 
it  is  our's.  It  is  we  that  plant  it  for  our  and  their  use.  Hear 
us,  therefore,  for  we  speak  of  things  that  concern  us  and  our 
children,  and  you  must  not  think  hard  of  us  while  our  men 
shall  say  more  to  you ;  for  we  have  told  them." 

This  formal  speech  of  the  women  being  ended,  Colo- 
nel Proctor  acceded  to  a  request  that  he  would  meet 
thr;ir  sachems  in  council  on  the  same  day,  and  hear  what 
would  be  said  by  the  speaker  whom  they  had  selected 


■m 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


67 


to  represent  them — "  the  Young  Prince  of  the  Turtle 
Tribe,  Sa-go-5''e-\vat-ha."*  At  the  given  signal,  the  firing 
of  a  gun,  the  council  assembled,  and  on  his  arrival  at 
the  counci]-fire,  an  unusual  spectacle  was  presented  to 
Colonel  Proctor,  who  found  the  elders  of  the  women 
seated  near  their  chiefs.  It  appeared  that  the  women, 
who,  as  is  natural  to  the  sex,  were  the  lovers  of  peace, 
had  prevailed  upon  their  lords,  including  all  the  leading 
chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations,  to  alter  the  determination 
avowed  to  Colonel  Proctor  on  the  preceding  evening  by 
Young  Kin"'  After  a  short  silence,  Red-Jacket  tooli  up 
the  speech  of  his  cUents  as  follows : — 

"  Brother  prom  Pennsylvania  :  You  that  are  sent  from 
General  Washington,  and  by  the  Thirteen  Fires :  you  have 
been  sitting  side  by  side  with  us  every  day,  and  the  Great 
Spirit  has  appointed  us  another  pleasant  day  to  meet  again. 

"  Now  listen.  Brother  !  You  know  what  we  have  been 
doing  so  long,  and  what  trouble  we  have  been  at,  and  you 

*  Tho  worucn  on  this  occasion  spoko  of  Red-Jacket  as  of  the  Turtle  Tribe, 
and  it  lias  been  thus  written  elsewhere.  But  he  himself  claimed  to  bo  of  the 
Wolf  Tribe,  mid  thus  I  have  designated  him.  My  authority  is  the  following 
anecdote,  related  to  me  by  the  venerable  Mr.  James  Wudsworth,  of  Gcneseo,  in 
the  summer  of  1840.  Many  years  ago,  the  Six  Nations  held  a  treaty,  by  them- 
selves, at  a  place  about  live  miles  east  of  Mr.  Wadsworth's  residence.  They 
continued  in  council  until  their  provisions  were  exhausted,  and  until,  in  fact, 
they  beciinio  very  hungry.  On  iircul-liijj'  up,  Red-Jacket,  who  was  well  ac- 
quainted with  Mr.  Wudsworth,  led  some  thirty  or  forty  of  the  leading  chiefs 
to  his  house,  and  rcf|uested  breakfast.  Mr.  W.  siirea<l  a  tabie  liljcrally, 
but  such  was  the  voracity  ol  the  Indians  that  the  viands  disai)p('arcd  almost  a.<j 
fast  as  tlu'y  could  bo  set  before  them.  Steaks,  cold  hams,  tongues,  Sec,  vanished 
with  prodigious  rapidity.  Red-Jacket  lost  not  his  full  portion ;  and  reading  Mr. 
Wadsworth's  surpri3(?  at  their  voracity  in  his  countenance,  the  chief  drily  re- 
marked that  his  entertainer  must  excuse  him,  inasmuch  as  he  belonged  to  the 
Wolf  Tribe — adding  "  and  wolves,  you  know,  ore  always  fond  of  meat." 


m  I 


W! 


ii 


iii 


58 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


il 


,■!« 


I'    H 


know  that  it  has  been  the  request  of  our  head  warrior,*  that 
we  are  left  to  answer  for  our  women,  who  are  to  conclude 
what  ought  to  he  done  by  both  sachems  and  waniors.  So 
hear  what  is  their  conclusion. 

"  Brother  :  The  business  you  have  come  on  is  very  ti'ou- 
blesonie,  and  we  have  been  a  long  time  considering  on  it,  ever 
since  you  came  here,  and  now  the  elders  of  our  women,  con- 
sidering the  gieatness  of  your  business,  have  said  that  our 
sachems  and  warriors  must  help  you  over  your  difficulties,  for 
the  good  of  them  and  their  children.  Moreover,  you  tell  us, 
since  the  treaty  of  Tioga  with  us,  the  AmerLans  are  strong 
for  peace. 

"  Now  all  that  has  been  done  for  you  has  been  done  by  our 
women  :  the  rest  will  be  a  ha.  ask  for  us  ;  for  the  ])eople  at 
the  setting  sun  are  bad  jieople,  and  you  have  come  on  in  too 
much  haste  for  such  great  matters  of  importance.  And  now, 
Brother,  you  must  look  when  it  is  light  in  the  morning  until 
the  setting  sun,  and  you  must  reach  your  neck  over  the  land, 
and  take  all  the  light  you  can,  to  show  the  danger.  A.nd  these 
are  the  words  of  our  women  to  you,  and  the  sachems  and  war- 
riors who  shall  go  with  you.  And  now  we  shall  name  them 
as  they  have  first  presented  themselves  in  this  full  council.t 

"  Now,  Brother  from  Pennsylvania  and  from  General  Wash- 
ington, I  have  told  you  what  has  been  directed.  Let  us,  there- 
fore throw  all  care  on  the  mercy  of  our  Great  Keeper,  in  liopes 
that  he  will  assist  us.  You  now  know  that  Colonel  Butler  of 
the  British  told  us  that  he  must  take  our  writings  down  to 
Colonel  Gordon,  as  he  is  a  very  wise  man,  and  j^erhaps  he 
may  have  something  to  say  to  us  that  may  be  for  our  good. 


M''i 


ill 


*  Cornplanter. 

t  Hero  followed  the  n'lmes  of  the  delegates,  one  of  whom  was  Red-Jacket 
himiielf,  and  among  whom  was  7iot  Cornplanter,  for  a  reason  presently  stated. 
The  delegates  were  six  in  number,  of  whom  were  the  four  following :  Kuyscctta, 
Rcd-.Tacket,  "  the  Young  Prince  of  the  Tiirth?  Tribe,"  as  ho  was  designated. 
Captain  John,  of  the  Onondagas,  and  the  Grand  Currier,  Awangogathe.  (The 
namea  of  the  two  other  deputies  were  lost  by  Colonel  I'roctor.) 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


59 


And  wc  also  want  liis  assistance,  as  he  is  the  man  that  keeps 
all  the  vessels  that  are  on  the  lake. 

"  Therefore,  my  Brother,  make  your  mind  easy,  for  your  re- 
quest is  granted,  and  when  we  hear  from  our  brothers  the 
British,  then  we  shall  know  what  time  we  can  start.  And  you 
must  not  be  uneasy  that  our  brother  O'Beel*  does  not  go  with 
you,  for  he  is  very  tired,  and  must  rest  awhile,  and  take  charge 
of  our  young  warriors  while  they  are  playing,t  to  keep  them 
in  peace  for  fear  of  danger.  And  now,  while  we  are  speal:- 
ingf>  more  of  our  young  warriors  have  given  their  names  to  go 
with  you."| 

If  the  true  reason  Is  here  given  why  the  Cornplanter 
was  not  allowed  to  proceed  upon  the  mission, — if  indeed 
he  had  not  been  kept  from  the  deputation  by  a  British 
intrigue  through  Red-Jacket, — there  was  probably  ano- 
ther reason  lying  still  deeper  in  the  minds  of  the  women. 
Cornplanter  was  not  only  the  principal  war-chief  of  the 
Senecas,  but  he  was  a  man  of  great  bravery  and  saga- 
city, and  withal  a  sincere  friend  of  peace.  The  times 
were  critical,  and  the  Indians  at  Buffalo  Creek  and  in 
the  circurnjacent  country  were  in  frequent  alarm. 
Even  while  Colonel  Proctor  was  with  them,  two  fresh 
scalps  had  been  brought  in,  one  of  which  was  that  of  an 
Indian,  accompanied  by  a  story  that  the  white  people 
were  making  war  upon  them.  And  although  Colonel 
Proctor  succeeded  in  convincing  them  that  the  tale  was 
without  foundation  in  truth,  yet  the  Indians  were  not 

*  O'Bccl,  or  O'Bail,  was  one  of  the  names  of  Cornplanter,  it  being  the  name 
of  his  fatlier,  wlio  was  a  wliito  man. 

t  That  is  hunting — os  explained  by  Colonel  Proctor. 

t  Hero  follow  the  names,  very  long,  and  very  Indian,  of  nine  warriors,  who 
volunteered  to  go  upon  the  mission.  It  is  needless  to  record  then;,  as  none 
of  them  were  never  otherwise  distinguished. 


A 


fp 


:;l 


i    '•'I'l, 


u 


1W 


^•^1 


I 


!i 


mi 


n 


:    1 

II 


III 


I 


■\ 


I 


I'-'i 


i'      'i' 


!!P|' 


60 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


without  apprehensions  of  evil.  It  is,  therefore,  proba- 
ble that  the  women  had  determined  to  retain  Cornplan- 
ter  as  the  chief  who  could  best  restrain  the  warlike  pro- 
pensities of  their  young  braves,  while  they  could  repose 
greater  confidence  both  in  his  bravery  and  discretion, 
in  the  event  of  actual  danger,  during  the  absence  of 
the  messengers  to  the  Miamies,  than  in  any  other  leader 

of   their   nation.      But  the  benevolent  designs   of  the 

• 

women  were  circumvented  by  "the  man  that  kept  the 
vessels  on  the  lake."  Proctor  had  previously  applied  to 
Colonel  Gordon  for  permission  to  charter  a  vessel  for  the 
proposed  voyage  upon  Lake  Eric,  to  which  no  answer 
had  as  yet  been  returned.  The  British  commander, 
probably,  was  reluctant  to  be  known  openly  as  the  agent 
in  defeating  the  pacific  mission  of  Colonel  Proctor,  and 
he  had,  therefore,  been  intriguing  to  that  effect  through 
the  Indians.  But  finding  that  througli  the  interposition 
of  the  women,  who  were  exercising  a  sounder  discretion 
upon  the  subject  than  the  men,  the  object  could  not  be 
thus  frustrated,  he  at  once  threw  aside  his  mask,  and 
brought  the  mission  abruptly  to  an  end,  by  refusing  to 
recognise  Proctor  in  his  official  character,  and  by  pro- 
hibiting the  passage  of  the  Indian  deputies  to  Sandusky 
in  any  vessel  upon,  the  lake.  Thus  circumstanced,  as 
the  journey  could  not  with  prudence  be  undertaken  by 
land,  and  as  the  Indians  positively  refuseti  to  attempt 
the  passage  of  the  lake  in  canoes.  Proctor  was  compelled 
most  reluctantly  to  abandon  the  enterprise,  and  return  to 
•  the  seat  of  government.  It  was  well  for  his  personal 
\  safety  that  he  did  so ;  since  by  information  received  sub- 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


61 


sequcntly  from  a  captive  who  escaped  from  the  Miamles, 
it  was  ascertaincil  that  the  noted  Simon  Giriy,  and 
other  desperadoes,  tories,  who  had  fled  from  the  border 
settlements  of  the  United  States  during  the  war  of  the 
revolution,  had  determined  upon  the  colonel's  assassina- 
tion, should  he  come  among  them,  even  though  attended 
"  by  a  hundred  Senecas."* 

This  council  at  Buffalo  Creek,  in  regard  to  the  mission 
of  Colonel  Proctor,  had  not  been  anticipated  by  the 
government  of  the  United  Stuics.  But  knowing  the 
feverish  temperament  of  the  Six  Nations,  and  the  recent 
provocations  the  Senecas  in  particular  had  received  at 
the  hands  of  some  of  the  Pennsylvania  border  men,  the 
President  was  at  the  same  time  engaged  in  another 
effort  to  divert  their  attention  from  the  wars  of  their 
western  brethren,  and  to  cultivate  with  them  the  most 
amicable  relations.  To  this  end,  before  the  unfavorable 
result  of  Proctor's  embassy  could  have  been  known  at 
Philadelphia,  Colonel  Pickering  had  been  commissioned 
to  hold  a  treatyt  with  the  Six  Nations  at  the  Painted 
Post.  This  treaty  was  held  in  June,  and  was  attended 
by  favorable  results.  Indeed,  although  most  of  their 
principal  chiefs  were  to  a  very  unhappy  extent  under 
the  influence  of  the  British  military  authorities  in  Cana- 
da, yet,  the  greater  proportion  of  their  older  men,  on  the 
republican  side  of  the  boundary,  were  inclined  to  peace, 
— the  young  men  of  the  Senecas,  and  a  few  of  the  Cayu- 
gas  only,  being  resolved  upon  war.     The  intervention  of 

*  Deposition  of  Thomas  Rhea.    Indian  State  Papers,  vol.  i.,  pp.  196,  197. 
t  Holding  a  council,  in  Indian  parlance,  is  called  holding  "  a  treaty,"  if  there 
be  two  or  mor3  parties  present. 


;■(■ '  ' 

;*  ! 

jm; 

:^;il 


I     ■" 


m 


^l' 


n 


63 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


'  li 


the  women,  moreover,  prior  to  the  df'}>;u'Laro  of  Colonel 
Proctor,  had  produced  a  happy  effeci,.  "y  soutiilng  the 
irritated  feelings  of  their  men,  and  dircctinc:  their 
thoughts  to  the  blessings  of  peace.  Very  erroneous 
opinions  are  generally  entertained  nmong  civilized  peo- 
ple, in  regard  to  the  consideration  in  which  their 
women  are  held  by  the  American  Indians,  and  the  de- 
gree of  influence  they  exercise  among  them.  True, 
as  with  all  barbarians,  the  women  are  in  some  re- 
spects the  slaves  of  the  men ;  but  those  of  the  Ameri- 
can aboriginals  arc  no  fartlicr  slaves  than  they  are  ren- 
dered such  by  the  field-labor  which  is  imposed  upon 
them  in  addition  to  the  ordinary  cares  of  the  household ; 
and  in  this  respect  the  women  of  the  peasantry  of 
Europe  are  in  no  better  position  than  they.  On  the 
other  hand,  although  the  respect  with  which  they  are 
treated  by  their  lords  is  not  as  refined  and  sjpiritnalizcd 
as  among  the  cavaliers  in  the  days  of  chivalry,  still  it 
may  safely  be  averred  that  in  the  adjustment  of  weighty 
and  difficult  matters,  no  other  people  are  in  the  habit  of 
treating  the  opinions  of  their  women  with  greater  defe- 
rence than  the  American  Indians.  On  the  occasion  now 
passing  in  review,  that  influence,  as  already  remarked, 
was  most  happily  exerted,  and  the  conse<|uence  was, 
that  the  council  called  under  the  auspices  of  Colonel 
Pickering,  at  the  Painted  Post,*  was  well  attended.     In- 

*  The  "  Painted  Post"  wns  a  noted  Innd-mark  in  the  (sarly  settlement  of 
western  New- York,  and  in  the  history  of  Indian  aftiiirs,  long  heforo.  It  was 
literally  a  post,  of  oak  timber,  planted  in  the  ground  upon  the  Conhocton  Creek, 
within  the  boundary  of  New-York,  but  not  tar  from  the  Pennsylvania  line.  It 
was  painted  in  the  Indian  manner,  and  tradition  avers  that  it  was  a  monument, 


V'^ 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


G3 


deed,  despite  the  efforts  of  the  British  officers  in  com- 
mand of  Upper  Canada,  the  chiefs  began  to  draw  off"  in 
the  direction  of  the  Painted  Post,  even  before  the  de- 
parture of  Colonel  Proctor  from  Buffalo  Creek. 

Tiie  speeches  interchanged  between  the  chiefs  and 
Colonel  Pickering  at  this  council  have  not  been  pre- 
served ;  but  the  result  was  favorable  in  yet  farther 
diverting  the  attention  of  the  Six  Nations  from  tlie  afiiiirs 
of  the  western  Indians  in  actual  hostility ;  while  by  a 
liberal  distribution  of  presents,  the  young  warriors  were 
checked  in  their  propensity  to  start  away  upon  the  war- 
path whenever  blood  was  snuffed  in  the  tainted  breeze. 
Yet  another  fortunate  measure  was  accomplished  by  the 
employment  of  the  brave  old  Stockbridge  chief,  Hen- 
drick  Aupamut,  upon  a  pacific  mission  to  the  belligerent 
country  of  the  Miamies, — an  undertaking  which  Colonel 
Proctor  and  the  Cornplanter  had  failed  to  achieve. 

More  interesting  than  all  to  the  philanthropist,  it  was 
at  this  council  that,  in  accordance  with  the  benevolent 
views  of  Washington,  Colonel  Pickering  made  a  suc- 
cessfid  demonstration  toward  winning  the  attention  of 
the  chiefs  to  the  policy  so  important  to  them,  of  com- 
mencing the  work  of  civilization  among  their  people. 
This  was  a  point  upon  which  Colonel  Pickering  had 
been  particularly  instructed  by  the  President,  and  no 
suitable  occasion  was  neglected,  during  the  three  weeks' 


M  " 


ilfi! 


■,   I 


of  great  antiquity,  erected  to  commemorato  the  death  of  some  celcbrntcJ  war- 
chief,  whose  name  has  been  lost  in  the  lapse  of  ages.  The  Indians,  it  is  also  re- 
lated, were  in  the  practice,  from  generation  to  generation,  of  erecting  new  one.i 
on  tho  dcciiy  of  the  old.  The  Painted  Post  has  given  tlie  name  to  a  township, 
now  forming  the  south-east  corner  of  Steuben  county. 


I        I 


l>iJ 


I  '        i 


f^' 


■*, 


■A 


i.  .;' 


1 

1 

1 

1 ' 

1 

64 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


deliberations  of  the  council,  to  fulfil  this  part  of  the  com- 
mission. At  the  close  of  the  council,  the  colonel  regaled 
the  chiefs  with  a  sumptuous  entertainment,  provided 
strictly  in  accordance  with  the  usages  of  civilized  life. 
The  assemblage  at  the  feast  was  large,  including  several 
gentlemen  I'rom  New-York,  Boston  and  Piiilad('li)liia,  in 
the  train  of  the  commissioner,  and  numerous  chiefs. 

In  the  course  of  the  entertainment,  the  commissioner 
took  occasion  to  renew  his  appeal  to  the  chiefs,  at  least 
to  make  an  effort  to  introduce  among  their  tribes  the  arts 
and  customs  of  civilization, — closing  an  eloquent  address 
by  pointing  them  to  the  taste  and  elegance  of  the  ban- 
quet l)efore  them.  He  told  them  that  if  they  would 
comply  with  the  advice  of  the  President,  and  adopt  the 
principles  and  practices  of  civilized  life,  within  five  years 
they  might  spread  such  a  table  themselves — the  j)roducLS 
of  their  ovcrleeming  soil ;  while  by  educating  their  young 
men,  they  might  be  (pialilied  to  meet  the  whiles  even  in 
the  great  council  of  the  Tiiirtcen  Fires, — in  which  coun- 
cil they  might  also  be  represented. 

Ued-Jacket  replied, — ratlier  doggedlj^ — but  yet  with 
some  humor.  There  were  suspicions  afloat,  that  wliat- 
ever  might,  b(^  the  temper  of  tlie  head  men  towanl  each 
other,  u[)on  both  sides,  the  terms  between  tlio  young 
white  men  of  the  company  and  the  pretty  squaws  had 
been  sufficiently  amicable,  of  wiiicli  circunistanee  tlie 
orator  was  not  unmi.idful  to  avail  himself  in  his  re- 
sponse, which  was  substantially  thus  : — 

"  Hrwthk.u  :  You  have  during  tliis  ncgotiution  said  a  good 
deal  un  civilization.     No  chief  present  can  forget  vvljat  yuu 


^:.A 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


••< 


6fi 


have  told  us.     They  will  beai*  it  in  mind  if  they  should  not 
follow  your  advice. 

"  Brother  :  Wo  thank  you  for  your  good  counsel ; — and, 
as  an  additional  inducement  to  its  adoption,  I  am  happy  to  per- 
ceive,"— (casting  liis  piercing  eye  around  the  tiible  witli  an  em- 
phasis, look,  and  tone,  peculiarly  but  insidiously  significant,) 
"  that  you  have  introduced  to  our  notice  several  young  men 
who  will  doubtless  feel  that  patriotism  which  your  oratory  is 
calculated  to  inspire, — proud  that  tliey  can  give  a  practical 
illustration  of  its  sincerity  l)y  intermarrying  wilh  our  wom(!n."* 

The  satire  was  as  keen  as  well  deserved.  J)iit  not- 
withstanding the  indeliniteness  of  Ited-Jackct's  reply, 
the  suggestions  of  Colonel  Pickering  hud  been  listened 
to  with  more  than  ordinary  attention  ;  and  an  invitation 
to  several  of  the  chiefs  to  visit  Philiidelpiiia.  at  sonic  con- 
venient season,  to  confer  with  their  Oreat  Father,  the 
President,  tluth(.'r  upon  the  subject,  was  accepted. t 


■  i  > 


<i. 


w 


■'If 


I   -i 


*  MS.  Collodions  of  .loscpli  W.  Moulloii,  \'.*t\. 

t  Megsngo  of   I'residcui  Wasbiiii;tun  lo  the   Sennlc  of  tin:  I'nitcd  Statvi, 
March  i.'C,  1792. 


9 


i 


i' 


>t 


M 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Efforts  of  General  Wasliington  fur  improving  the  moral  and  social  condition 
of  the  Indians — Mission  of  fifty  chiefs  to  I'hiiadelpliiu — Welcomed  by  the 
Governor  of  Pennsylvanja — Speech  of  Red-Jacket  in  reply — Address  to  the 
chiefs  by  Presi<lont  Washington — Speech  of  Red-Jacket  in  rei>ly — Comments 
upon  the  speech— Proposition  of  tiie  guvcrnmeiii  for  the  iniprovcment  of  the 
Indians — Reply  of  Red-Jacket— Speech  of  Colonel  Pickering  to  the  chiefs— 
Troubles  with  the  north-western  Indians — Reply  of  Farmer's-Brother  to  Colo- 
nel Pickering — Reply  of  Red-Jacket — Piiiting  address  of  Washington — Red- 
Jacket  and  the  military  clothes — Close  of  the  conferences— Continuance  of 
the  war  with  the  Indians  of  the  north-west — Tb2  Senecas  to  send  a  deputa- 
tion of  their  chiefs  upo.i  a  message  of  peace — Irritation  of  tlio  Six  Nations- 
Interference  of  the  Hriiish — The  Fish-Carriei' — The  deputation  returns — Their 
mission  uniiucccssful — Close  of  the  Indian  war. 

On  the  thirteenth  day  of  March,  1792,  Red-Jacket 
arrived  in  Pliiladelphia,  being  one  of  a  deputation  of 
fifty  chiefs  of  his  people,  respectable  for  their  character 
and  influence,  invited  thither  by  Colonel  Pickering,  as 
stated  in  the  preceding  chapter.  The  brave  and  true- 
hearted  Farnier's-Brother  was  of  the  number ;  and  they 
had  been  brought  to  what  was  at  that  thne  the  federal 
city,  under  tlic  guidance  of  their  faithful  missionary,  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Kirkland.  In  addition  to  the  design,  dear  to 
the  heart  of  Washington,  of  persuading  the  Indians  to 
exchange  the  hunter  state  for  that  of  civilized  life,  the 
visit  of  this  deputation  had  been  strongly  desired  by  the 
Executive,  for  the  purpose,  if  possible,  of  attaching 
them  more  closely  to  the  interests  of  the  United  States. 


i 


LIFE  AND  TIMES,  &c. 


67 


In  order  to  effect  this  object,  it  was  thought  important, 
not  only  to  impart  to  them  some  just  notions  of  the 
strength  and  pf)\ver  of  the  United  States,  hut  to  win 
their  confidence  by  kindness, — by  cnhghtening  their  un- 
derstandings as  to  their  own  true  interests, — and  by 
convincing  tliem  of  the  equitable  and  benevolent  policy 
of  the  United  States  in  regard  to  them. 

Nor  was  this  the  only  object  that  rendered  the  visit  of 
this  deputation  particularly  welcome  in  Philadelphia  at 
that  time.  Events  had  occurred  in  tlie  prosecution  of 
the  contest  with  the  hostile  Indians  of  the  north-west, 
of  a  disastrous  character.  The  campaign  against  the 
Miami  country,  entrusted  to  the  connnand  of  General 
St.  Clair,  had  l)een  brought  to  r.  bloody  and  disastrous 
terminrition  on  the  4tli  of  November,  1791.  It  wrs  a 
bitter  reverse  to  the  anns  of  the  young  republic.  The 
immediate  effl-ct  of  their  victory  was  to  elate  the  In- 
dians beyond  measure ;  and  the  government  was  seri- 
ously apprehensive  that  in  the  flush  of  the  signal  triumph 
obtained  by  their  brethren  at  the  west,  the  Seneciis,  and 
possibly  the  Cayugas  also,  might  seize  their  hatchets  and 
fall  upon  the  frontier  settlements  of  New- York  and  Penn- 
sylvania, in  the  vain  expectation  thai  li  >y  might  now  be 
able  at  least  to  avert,  if  not  to  roll  back,  die  tide  of 
white  population  which  was  so  ra ndly  crowding  them 
from  their  scats.  In  addition  *••  all  >vhich,  it  was  the 
earnest  desire  of  the  governn.cnt  to  make  one  more 
efibrt  to  induce  them  to  send  a  deputation  of  their  most 
influential  chiefs  to  the  hostile  country,  in  the  hope  of 
persuading  them  to  reasonable  terms  of  peace.     By  the 


V) 


■^. 


68 


LIFi:  AND  TIMKS 


defeat  of  St.  Clair,  a  measure  of  this  character  had  be- 
come far  more  important,  and  more  urgent  withal,  than 
at  the  time  of  Proctor's  unsuccessful  attempt  of  the  pre- 
ceding 3car.  Under  these  circumstances,  several  of 
which  li;id  not  l)een  foreseen  when  the  invitation  was 
fir&t  extended  to  the  S'x  Nations  by  Colonel  Pickering, 
the  visit  of  Iled-Jacket  and  his  associates  was  timely 
and  fortunate. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  more  ample  materials  for  a 
history  of  tliis  Indian  embassy  to  the  seat  of  the  federal 
governuKMit  have  not  been  preserved.     The  effort  was 
one  of  ilic  earliest  put  fortii  by  the  government  of  the 
yonng  republic,  i(>r  advancing  the  substantial  happiness 
of  the  red  man,  l)y  persuading  him  to  adopt  the  habits 
of  civilization.     And  inasmuch  as  tlie  policy  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  toward  th(^  hapless  race,  whose  doom  it  is  to 
disap[)ear  before  the;  white  man,  will  be  a  subject  of 
grave  consideration  witli  the  future   historian,  it  is  im- 
portant that  the  facts  should  stand  forth  upon  the  record. 
The  Anglo-Saxon  race  will  have  enough  to  answer  for, 
in  regard   to  diis  people,  in  any  event.     Let  it,  then, 
have  credit  for  what  it  has  done,  or  attempted  to  do,  in 
tiieir  beiiall';  an»l  if  it   shall  a{)pear  that  few  and  small 
were  the  advances  made  by  the  Indians  in  the  scale  of 
civilization,  during  tlie  first  fifty  years  of  the  independent 
existence  of  the  United  States,  it  will  at  tlie  same  time 
a[)pear  diat  tlie  government  of  the  latter  was  not  alto- 
gether at  fault.     Certainly  it  was  not  until  after  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  sixth  ['resident  had  terminated,  in 
March:  1829,  that  the  beneficent  policy  of  Washington 


OF  REDJACKET. 


69 


toward  the  children  of  the  forest  was  changed.  Until 
that  period  they  had  enjoyed  the  protection  of  the  fede- 
ral government,  in  their  ancient  "  seats,"  so  long  as  they 
chose  to  remain  in  them  ;  and  the  efforts  both  of  the  go- 
vernment and  of  various  voluntary  associations  of  a  bene- 
volent character,  for  the  improvement  of  their  moral,  reli- 
gious, and  social  condition,  had  been  unintcrmitted  ;  and 
it  may  be  added,  in  sorrow,  almost  unavailing. 

Viewed  in  the  aspect  here  presented,  the  proceedings 
attending  the  missif)n  of  llod-Jacket  and  his  associates 
to  I'hiladclphia,  now  under  consideration,  assume  more 
thrn  an  ordinniy  degree  of  interest.  And  as  Red- 
Jacket  himself  bore  a  prominent  part  in  those  proceed- 
ings, the  narrative  will  be  given  as  mucli  in  detail  as  the 
materials  that  hnve  escaped  the  ravages  of  time  will 
allow.  The  chiefs  were  welcomed  to  Philadelphia  by 
the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  by  whom  they  were  ad- 
dressed in  ilie  council  chamber  of  the  city.  After  re- 
ferring to  the  fact  that  every  tiling  which  it  was  sup- 
posed might  conduce  to  the  comfort  of  the  chiefs  du- 
ring their  visit  had  been  provided  for  them,  the 
Governor  closed  his  speech  as  lijllows  : — 


"  BROTirEus  !  I  know  ihc  kimlncss  with  which  you  treat 
the  straii|:(i'rs  tlint,  visit  your  country ;  and  it  is  my  sincere 
wisli  thnt,  when  you  return  to  your  fnniiliri',  you  may  be  able 
to  assure  them  (hat  the  virtues  of  friendHhip  and  hospitality 
are  also  practised  by  the  citizens  of  Pennsylvania." 

This  intei-vicw  took  place  on  the  28lh  of  March. 
Five  days  afterward,— for  in  all  matters  of  diplomacy 


■•!    i 


;  1 


70 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


and  of  state  the  Indians  proceed  with  unexceeded  de- 
hberation, — the  Governor  met  the  chiefs  in  council  again, 
when  Red-Jacket  pronounced  an  answer  to  the  speech 
of  his  Excellency,  in  the  following  terms  : — 

Brother  Onas*  Governor  :  Open  iinprcjudiv,ed  ears  to 
what  we  have  to  say  !  Some  days  since  you  addressed  us,  and 
what  you  said  gave  us  great  pleasure.  This  day  the  Great 
Spirit  has  allowed  us  to  meet  you  again  in  this  council  cham- 
ber. We  hope  that  your  not  receiving  our  immediate  answer 
to  your  address  will  make  no  imiirope'  imjiression  upon  your 
mind.  We  mention  this  lest  you  shouM  sn  pect  that  your 
kind  welcoiiio  and  friendly  address  has  not  had  a  proper  effect 
upon  our  hearts.  We  assure  you  it  is  far  oth  ^rwise.  In  your 
address  to  us  the  other  day,  in  this  ancient  council  chamber, 
where  our  forefathers  have  often  conversed  together,  several 
things  struck  our  attention  very  forcibly.  Wl  en  you  told  us 
this  was  the  place  in  wiiich  our  forefathers  often  met  on  peace- 
able terms,  it  gave  us  sensible  ple;isuie,  and  more  joy  than  we 
could  express.  Though  we  have  no  WTitings  like  you,  yet  we 
remember  often  to  nave  heard  of  the  friendship  that  existed 
between  our  fathers  and  yours.  The  pictui-et  to  which  you 
drew  our  attention  brought  fresh  to  our  minds  the  friendly  con- 
ferences that  used  to  be  held  between  the  fonner  govrrnurs  of 
Pennsylvania  and  our  tribes,  antl  showed  tlu>  love  which  your 
fathers  had  of  peace,  and  the  friendly  disposition  of  our  peo- 
ple. It  is  still  our  wish,  as  well  as  yours,  to  j)reserve  ])«!ace  be- 
tween our  tribes  and  you,  and  it  would  be  well  if  the  same 
spirit  existed  among  the  Indians  at  the  westward,  and  through 

*  The  name  which  iho  Indinns  conlVrri'd  upon  William  ronii,  nml  which  thev 
continued  to  bestow  upon  t-vi-ry  succeeding  Governor  of  I'ennsylvaniii.  The 
word  itsplf  Hignifies  a  pen, 

t  I'icti  ■  if  Pf  ,  treaty  with  tJie  Indinns.  DrnA-f,  in  whoso  Book  of  tho 
Inditing  '!k  account  of  these  interv''-ws  between  tho  Indiana  and  tliu  (jovemor 
of  Punniit''^.  nin  is  fourd. 


« 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


71 


every  part  of  the  United  States.  You  particularly  expressed 
that  you  were  well  pleased  to  find  that  we  diffei'ed  in  disposi- 
tion from  the  Indians  westward.  Your  disposition  is  that  for 
which  the  Onas  Governors  were  remai'kable.  As  you  love 
peace,  so  do  we  also  ;  and  we  wish  it  could  be  extended  to  the 
most  distant  part  of  this  great  country.  We  agreed  in  coun- 
cil, this  mornhig,  that  the  sentiments  I  have  expressed  should 
be  communicated  to  you  before  the  delegates  of  the  Five  Na- 
tions ;  and  to  tell  you  that  your  cordial  welcome  to  this  city, 
and  the  good  sentiments  contained  in  your  address,  have  made 
a  deep  iiviprcssion  on  our  hearts,  and  given  us  great  joy,  and 
from  the  heart  I  tell  you  so.     This  is  all  I  have  to  say." 

The  inference  from  this  speech  of  Red-Jacket  would 
certainly  be  that,  without  diversity  of  opinion,  the  In- 
dians of  the  Six  Nations  were  at  length  peaceably  dis- 
posed. But  such  was  not  the  fact.  After  Red-Jacket 
had  concluded.  Good  Peter,  another  of  the  delegation, 
sometimes  called  Dominic  Peter,*  and  a  very  worthy 
man,  likewise  addressed  a  short  speech  to  the  Governor, 
v;hich  is  represented  as  having  been,  for  the  most  part,  a 
repetition  of  the  paciiic  sentiments  expressed  liy  Red- 
Jacket.t  But  in  tlie  course  of  it  the  following  passage 
occurred : — 

"Wliat  is  there  more  desirable  than  that  we,  who  live 
within  hearing  of  nadi  other,  sliould  utiite  for  the  common 
govKi  I  Tiiis  is  my  wish.  It  is  the  wish  of  my  nation, 
although  I  am  sony  1  can't  say  so  of  every  ijidividual  in  it,  for 
there  are  differences  of  opinion  among  us,  as  well  as  anuxig 
the  white  people." 

*  Fur  itomc  accuunt  of  Good  Puai;  see  Cliotm'*  Hintohcal  Ui«oaur»i'. 
t  iJrakc'g  Buok  uf  the  Iniliuiis. 


i 

"1 

1 

1    V 

i 

r.ii 


■  ;  » 

li't 


'v. 


79 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


On  their  presentation  to  the  President,  General 
Washington,  they  were  addressed  by  the  latter  in 
the  following  terms  of  friendship  and  cordiality : — * 


i  il 


,'i-IM 


"  Sachems  and  "Warbiobs  op  the  Five  Nations  :  It 
affords  me  great  satisfaction  to  see  so  many  of  you,  who  are 
the  respectable  chiefs  and  representatives  of  your  several 
tribes,  and  I  cordially  bid  you  welcome  to  the  seat  of  the 
Government  of  the  United  States. 

"  You  have  been  invited  to  this  place  by  Colonel  Pickering, 
Bt  rny  special  request,  in  order  to  remove  all  causes  of  discon- 
tent ;  to  devise  and  adopt  plans  to  promote  your  welfare,  and 
firmly  to  cement  the  peace  biMwecn  the  United  States  and 
you,  so  as  that  in  future  we  sliall  consider  ourselves  brothers 
indeed. 

"  I  assure  you  that  I  am  desirous  that  a  firm  peace  should 
exist,  not  only  between  the  United  States  and  the  Five  Na- 
tions, but  also  between  the  United  States  and  all  the  nations 
of  this  land, — and  that  this  peace  should  be  founded  upon  the 
principles  of  justice  and  humanity,  as  upon  an  inunovcable 
rock. 

"  That  you  may  partake  of  all  the  comforts  of  this  earth, 
which  can  be  derived  from  civilized  life,  enriched  by  the  pos- 
session of  industry,  virtue  and  knowledge ;  and  I  trust  that 
such  judicious  measures  will  now  be  concerted,  to  secure  to 
you  and  your  children  these  uivaluable  objects,  as  will  afford 
you  cause  tor  rejoicing  while  you  live. 

"  That  tliese  are  the  strong  and  sincere  desires  of  my  heart, 
I  hope  time  aiid  circumstances  will  convince  you.  But  in 
order  that  our  peace  and  friendship  may  for  ever  be  unclouded, 


*  This  9p(!cch  of  Picsident  Washington  has  not  been  preserved  by  Sparks, 
although  that  delivere<l  by  him  eighteen  months  before,  to  Coniplaiiter,  appears 
in  his  correspondence.  The  author  is  indebted  for  it  to  Joseph  VV.  Moulton, 
E»q.,  who  obtained  a  copy  at  Washington,  many  years  ago. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


73 


we  must  forget  the  misunderstandings  of  past  times.  Lot  us 
now  look  forward,  and  devise  measures  to  render  our  friend- 
ship perpetual.  I  am  aware  that  the  existing  hostilities  with 
some  of  the  western  Indians  have  been  ascribed  to  an  unjust 
possession  of  their  lands  by  the  United  States.  But  be  as- 
sured that  this  is  not  tlie  case.  We  require  no  lands  but  those 
obtained  by  treaties,  which  we  consider  as  fairly  made,  and 
particularly  confirmed  by  the  treaty  of  Muskingum,  in  the 
year  1789. 

"  If  the  western  Indians  should  entertain  the  opinion  that 
we  want  to  wrest  their  lands  from  them,  they  are  laboring  Tin- 
der an  error.  If  this  error  could  be  coirected  it  would  be  for 
their  happiness, — and  nothing  would  give  me  more  pleasure, 
because  it  would  open  to  both  of  us  the  door  of  peace. 

"  1  shall  not  enter  into  further  particulars  with  you  at  pre- 
sent, but  refer  you  to  General  Knox,  the  Secretary  of  A\  ar, 
and  Colonel  Pickering,  who  will  communicate  with  you  upon 
the  objects  of  your  journey,  and  inform  me  thereof. 

"  As  an  evidence  of  the  sincerity  of  the  desires  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  for  perfect  peace  and  friendship  with  you,  I  deliver 
you  this  white  belt  of  wampum,  which  I  request  you  will 
safely  keep. 

(Si-.ied)         GEO.  WASHINGTON."* 

The  President  having  thus  deputed  Colonel  Pickering 
and  General  Knox  to  conduct  the  subsequent  confer- 
ences with  the  chiefs,  an  interview  was  had  with  them 
in  the  city  council  chamber,  on  the  31st  (jf  INIarch,  at 
which  time  Red-Jr-'kct,  ln)ldinfr  in  iiis  hands  the  white 


t 


w 


I  i. 


*  Tin;  niamtsciipt  frmn  wliicli  the  prorudiiig  speech  has  boon  trnnscrihed  hears 
the  (lute  of  March  23(1,  1792.  Hence,  in  the  order  of  time,  it  should  stand  be- 
fore the  nntecodent  account  of  the  interview  between  the  chiefs  and  the  Governor 
of  Poniisylviuiiii.  But  the  dale  is  believed  to  bt;  erroneous ;  nnd  if  not,  the 
traiispubition  has  been  made  for  the  sake  of  convenience. 

10 


i 


.?  1, 


74 


LIFE  AND  TIMLS 


i: 


m      !  : 


"  i\ 


It  ■■ 


!  ;!        1 


d 


belt  which   iiad    been   dehvcrecl   to   him   by  General 
Washington,  addressed  Colonel  Pickering  as  follows: — 

"  I  now  request  tlie  attention  of  the  Prc^iJent  of  tlie  Uni- 
ted States,  by  his  agent,  Coloiiol  Pickr uu.,  now  present.  A 
few  days  since,  when  tlie  American  chief  liad  spoken  to  us, 
he  gave  us  to  understand  tliat  (lenerai  Knox  end  Colonel 
Pickering  should  be  the  agents  to  negotiate  with  us  on  things 
which  concern  our  welfare.  Let  me  call  for  your  compassion, 
Rs  you  can  put  all  down  upon  paper,  wl.  '"  we  have  to  l?bor 
witl:  our  minds,  to  retain  and  digest  what  is  .spoken,  to  enable 
us  to  make  an  aii>\\er. 

"  Brother — ^vhose  attention  I  have  called  as  the  represen- 
tative of  the  great  chief  of  this  Island  : — when,  the  other  day, 
he  welcomed  us  to  the  great  council-fire  of  the  thirleen  United 
States,  he  said  it  was  from  his  very  heart.  lie  said  it  gave  him 
pleasure  to  look  around  and  Kee  such  numerous  representa- 
tives of  the  Five  Nations  of  Indians,  and  that  it  was  at  his 
special  request  we  had  been  invited  to  the  seat  of  the  general 
government,  to  promote  the  luq)[)iness  of  our  nation,  in  a 
friendly  connection  with  tlu?  United  States.  He  then  told  us 
that  his  love  of  peace  did  not  terminate  with  the  Five  Nations, 
hut  extended  to  all  the  nations  at  the  setting  sun  ;  and  that  it 
was  his  desire  that  universal  peace  might  prevail  in  this 
is 'and. 

"  JiuoTHKR  C'oN-NEJi-sAUTY  :*  I  requested  your  compassion, 
on  account  of  our  dill'erent  situations,  by  n-asou  of  which  I 
should  notice  only  a  few  of  the  principal  things  in  the  Presi- 
dent's speech,  delivered  to  us  the  other  day.  Three  things  I 
have  mentioned  of  the  introductory  part  of  his  sj)cech.  What 
other  reply  can  we,  your  brothers  of  the  Five  Nations,  make 
to  that  ititrotluctory  part  of  the  speech,  than  to  thank  him, 
and  say  tiiat  it  has  given  a  spring  to  every  passion  of  our 
souls  ? 


"  The  Indian  namS  of  Col.  Pickering. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


75 


"  Brother  :  The  President  again  observed  to  us  that  he 
wished  our  minds  might  all  be  disposed  to  peace, — tiiat  a  hap- 
py peace  might  bo  established  between  you  and  your  brothers 
of  tiie  Five  Nations,  so  firmly  that  nothing  might  move  it;  that 
it  miglit  be  founded  on  a  rock.  This  sentiment  of  your  chief 
has  given  joy  to  our  hearts, — to  compare  that  peace  to  a  rock, 
which  is  immoreuhlc. 

"  Tlie  President  further  obseiTed  to  us  that  by  our  continu- 
ing to  walk  in  the  \m\\\  of  peace,  and  hearkening  to  his  coun- 
sel, we  might  share  with  yctu  in  all  the  blessings  of  civilized 
life.  This  also  meets  the  app'bation  of  our  minds,  and  has 
the  thanks  of  all  your  brothei-    ii  the  Five  Nations. 

*'  He  again  observeil  io  t  if  we  attended  to  his  coun- 

sel in  thif  matter,  our  children  I  children's  children,  might 
partake  in  all  the  blessings  wliu  n  sliould  rise  out  of  this  earth. 
This  has  taken  lioht  of  our  minds,  and  even  we  who  are  grown 
up  look  forward,  and  anticipate  its  fulfilment. 

"  The  President  again  observed  to  us  that  what  he  had 
spoken  was  in  the  sincerity  of  his  heart,  and  that  time  and  op- 
portunities would  give  further  evidence  that  what  he  said  was 
true.  And  we  believed  it,  because  wo  saw  the  words  come 
from  his  own  lips, — and  therefore  they  were  lodged  deep  in 
our  mind. 

"  The  l^residcnt  of  the  Thirteen  Fires,  while  continuing  his 
speech,  made  also  this  remark,  '  that  in  order  to  establish 
all  his  words  for  the  best  good  of  your  nation  and  our's,  we 
must  forget  all  the  evils  that  were  past,  and  attend  to  what  lies 
before  us,  and  take  such  a  course  as  shall  cement  our  peace, 
that  we  may  bo  as  one.' 

"  The  President  again  observed  that  it  had  come  to  his  cars 
that  the  cause  of  the  hostilities  now  prevailing  with  the  West- 
ern Indians,  was  their  persuasion  that  the  United  States  had 
unjustly  taken  away  their  lands.  But  he  assui-ed  us  this  war. 
not  the  case.  That  it  was  not  the  mind  of  any  of  his  chiefs  to 
take  any  land  on  the  whole  island  without  agreeing  for  it. 


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He  then  mentioned  a  treaty  at  Muskingum,  and  he  concluded 
that  what  land  was  given  up  at  that  treaty  was  fairly  obtained. 
"  He  also  observed  to  us  that  it  was  his  opinion  that  the 
hostile  Indians  were  in  an  error ;  that  they  had  missed  the 
true  path;  whatever  evil  spirit,  or  whatever  lies  had  turned 
them  aside,  he  wished  they  could  be  discovered,  that  they 
might  be  removed.  He  expressed  a  strong  wish  that  those 
obstacles  to  the  extending  of  peace  to  the  westward  might  be 
discovered  ;  and  he  would  use  all  his  exertions  to  remove 
them,  that  peace  might  be  extended  to  the  whole  Island. — 
Toward  the  close  of  his  speech  the  President  informed  us  that 
there  wore  many  things  which  concerned  the  future  happiness 
of  the  Five  Nations,  the  concerting  of  which  he  should  refer 
to  you*  here  present,  and  the  Chief  Warrior  of  the  United 
States.t  And  at  the  close  he  observed  that  our  professions  of 
friendship  and  regard  were  commonly  witnessed  by  some 
token :  therefore,  in  the  name  of  the  United  States,  he  pre- 
sented us  with  tliiw  white  belt,  which  was  to  be  handed  down 
from  one  generation  to  another,  as  a  confirmation  of  his  words, 
and  a  witness  of  the  friendly  disposition  of  the  United  States, 
towards  the  peace  and  happiness  of  the  five  confederated 
Nations." 

[Red-Jacket  here  laid  aside  the  white  belt  received 
from  the  President,  and  taking  up  a  belt  of  their  own, 
proceeded  as  follows  : — ] 

"  Now  let  the  President  of  the  United  States  possess  his 
mind  in  peace.  Wo  have  made  but  a  short  reply  to  his  address 
to  us  the  other  day,  for  the  belt  ho  gave  us  is  deposited  with 
us ;  and  we  have  taken  fast  hold  of  it.  What  more  can  we 
say  than  to  return  our  united  thanks  for  his  address  in  wel- 
coming us  to  the  seat  oi'  the  great  council,  and  for  tlio  advice 
he  gave  us  ]   And  our  pleasure  is  increased  that  you,  Con-neh- 


Pointing  to  Colonel  Pickering. 


t  Oeneml  Knox,  Secretary  at  War. 


'#' 


OF  RED-JACKET, 


77 


eauty,  are  appointed   to  assist  us  in  devising  the  means  to 
promote  and  secure  the  happiness  of  the  Five  Nations. 

"  Brother  !  Now  oiien  your  ears,  as  the  Representative  of  the 
Great  Council  of  the  thirteen  United  States,  in  our  present 
Council.  Hear  the  words  we  may  speak.  And  all  here 
present,  of  the  great  Council,*  and  our  Brethren  of  the  Five 
Nations,  hear  !— We  consider  ourselves  in  the  presence  of 
the  Great  Spirit,  the  proprietor  of  us  all. 

*'  The  President,  in  effect,  observed  to  us  that  we  of  the 
Five  Nations  were  our  own  proprietors — were  freemen,  and 
might  speak  with  freedom.  This  has  gladdened  our  hearts, 
and  removed  a  weight  that  was  upon  them.  And  therefore 
you  will  hear  us  patiently  while  we  speak.  The  President 
has,  in  effect,  told  us  that  we  were  freemen ;  the  sole  proprie- 
tors of  the  soil  on  which  we  live.  This  is  the  source  of  the 
joy  which  we  feel.  How  can  two  brothers  speak  freely  to- 
gether, unless  they  feel  tliat  they  are  upon  equal  ground  1 

"  I  observed  to  you,  Brotherjt  that  our  considering  our- 
selves, by  your  own  acknowledgment,  as  freemen,  has  given 
this  joy  to  our  hearts — that  we  might  speak  in  character. 
Therefore,  we  join  with  the  President  in  his  wish  that  all  the 
evils  which  have  hitherto  disturbed  our  peace  may  be  buried 
in  oblivion ;  and  this  wishiproceeds  from  our  hearts.  Now  we 
can  speak  our  minds  freely,  as  they  are  free  from  piessure. 

"  Now,  Brother,  while  you  continue  to  hear  in  behalf  of 
the  United  States,  let  all  here  present  also  open  their  ears, 
while  those  of  the  Five  Nations  here  present  speak  with  one 


i1  lit 


*  Somo  members  of  Congress  were  present— of  which  the  Indians  had  besn 
informed. 

t  It  Hhcnild  bo  borne  in  mind  that  the  frequent  use  of  the  word  Brother  is  the 
effort  of  the  rules  of  Indian  politeness,  wliicli  enjoin,  in  all  conversations,  n  ronstnnt 
remembrance  of  the  relation  subsisting  between  the  parties,  espenialiy  wlicro  that 
relation  implies,  nny  ail'cction,  or  respect.  It  is  like  the  perpetual  repetition,  in 
civilized  life,  n( Sir,  or  Madam — or,  in  England,  Your  Lnrdship.  In  tlie  samo 
manner  the  Indians,  at  every  sentence,  repeat.  My  Father,  My  Uncle,  My 
Coutin,  My  Brother,  &o. 


Nl' 


,1 


\\4 


78 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


voice.  We  wish  to  see  your  words  verified  to  our  children, 
and  children's  children.  You  enjoy  all  the  blessings  of  this 
life ;  to  you,  therefore,  we  look  to  make  provision  that  the 
same  maybe  enjoyed  by  our  children.  This  wish  comes  from 
our  heart;  but  we  add  that  our  hajipincss  cannot  be  great  if 
in  the  introduction  of  your  ways  we  are  put  under  too  much 
constraint. 

"  Brother  !  Appointed  agent  to  converse  with  us  upon  the 
affairs  of  our  peace,  continue  to  hear.  We,  your  brothers  of 
the  Five  Nations,  believe  that  the  Great  Spirit  let  this  island 
drop  down  from  above.  We  also  believe  in  his  superinten- 
dency  over  this  whole  island.  It  is  he  who  gives  peace  and 
prosperity,  and  he  also  sends  evil.  But  prosperity  has  been 
yours.  American  Brethren — all  the  good  which  can  spring 
out  of  this  island  you  enjoy.  We  therefore  wish  that  we  and 
our  children,  and  our  children's  children,  may  jiartake  with 
you  in  that  enjoyment. 

"  Brother  !  I  observed  that  tlie  Great  Spirit  might  smile 
upon  one  people,  and  turn  and  frown  upon  another.  This 
you  have  seen,  who  are  of  one  color  and  one  blood.  The 
King  of  England  and  you  Americans  strove  to  advance  your 
happiness  by  extending  your  possessions  upon  this  island, 
which  produces  so  many  good  things.  And  while  you  two 
great  powers  were  thus  contending  for  tliose  good  tilings,  by 
which  the  whole  island  was  shaken  and  violently  agitated,  is  it 
strange  that  the  peace  of  us,  the  Five  Nations,  was  shaken  and 
overturned  1 

"  But,  let  me  say  no  more  of  the  trembling  of  our  island. 
All  is,  in  a  measure,  now  quieted.  Peace  is  now  restored. 
The  peace  of  us,  the  Five  Nations,  is  now  budding.  But  still 
there  is  some  shaking  among  the  original  Americans,  at  the 
setting  sun ; — and  you,  the  Thirteen  Fires,  and  the  King  of 
England,  know  what  is  our  situation,  and  the  causes  of  this 
disturbance.     Now,  here  you  have  an  ambassador,*  aa  we  are 


*  Mr.  Hammond  was  then  tho  T 


]]nvoy  to  tlio  United  States 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


79 


informed,  from  the  King  of  England.  Let  him,  in  behalf  of 
the  King,  and  the  Americans,  adjust  all  their  matters,  according 
to  their  agi'eemcnt,  at  the  making  of  peace — and  then  you  will 
soon  see  all  things  settled  among  the  Indian  Nations.  Peace 
will  be  spread  far  and  near.  Let  the  President  and  the  am- 
bassador use  all  their  exertions  to  bring  about  this  settlement, 
(according  to  the  peace,)  and  it  will  make  us  all  glad,  and  we 
shall  consider  both  as  our  real  friends. 

"  Brother  !  Continue  to  hear  !  Be  assured  we  have  spoken 
from  our  very  hearts,  and  not  from  our  lips  only.  Let  us  there- 
fore make  this  observation  : — That  when  you  Americans  and 
the  King  made  peace,  he  did  not  mention  us,  and  showed  us 
no  compassion,  notwithstanding  all  he  said  to  us,  and  all  we 
had  suffered.  This  has  been  the  Oc casion  of  great  sonow  and 
pain,  and  gi'eat  loss  to  us,  the  Five  Nations.  When  you  and 
he  settled  the  peace  between  you  two  gi-eat  nations,  he  never 
asked  us  for  a  delegation  to  attend  to  our  interests.  Had  he 
done  this,  a  settlement  of  peace  among  all  the  western  nations 
might  have  been  effected.  But  the  neglecting  of  this,  and  pas- 
sing us  by  unnoticed,  has  brought  upon  us  great  pain  and 
trouble. 

"  Brother  !  It  is  evident  that  wo  of  the  Five  Nations  have 
suffered  much  in  consequence  of  the  strife  between  you  and 
the  King  of  England,  who  are  of  one  color  and  one  -blood. 
Our  chain  of  peace  has  been  broken.  Peace  and  friendship 
have  been  chased  from  us.  But  you  Americans  were  deter- 
mined not  to  treat  us  in  the  same  manner  as  we  had  been  treated 
by  the  King  of  England.  You  therefore  desiied  ns,  at  the 
re-establishment  of  peace,  to  sit  down  at  our  ancient  fire-places, 
and  aqrain  enjoy  our  lands  And  had  the  peace  between  you 
and  the  King  of  England  been  completely  accomplished,*  it 
would  long  before  this  time  have  extended  far  beyond  the  Five 
Nations. 


ife 


m  i 


*  An  allusion,  probably,  to  ilio  reti'ntion  h\  Great  Biiliiin,  of  the  northwestern 
posts,  belonging  to  lite  United  Stutua,  and  tu  other  ditlicultiua  under  the  lirst  treaty. 


i    ':  II 


*  t 


80 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


i''l 


;''■*■ 


"  Brother  Con-neh-sauty  :  You  are  specially  appointed 
with  General  Knox  to  confer  with  us  on  our  peace  and  happi- 
ness. We  have  rejoiced  in  your  appointment,  and  we  hope 
that  the  gieat  Warrior  will  remember  that  though  a  Warrior, 
he  is  to  converse  with  us  about  peace  ;  letting  what  concerns 
war  sleep  ; — and  the  counselling  part  of  his  mind,  while  acting 
with  us,  be  of  iwacc. 

"  Brother  !  Have  patience,  and  continue  to  listen.  The 
President  has  assured  us  that  he  is  not  the  cause  of  the  hostili- 
ties now  existing  at  the  westward,  but  laments  it.  Brother, 
we  wish  you  to  point  out  to  us  of  the  Five  Nations  wJiat  you 
think  is  the  real  cause. 

"  Brother  !  Agent  of  the  thirteen  United  States  in  the 
present  council :  We  now  publicly  return  our  thanks  to  the 
President  and  all  the  Counsellors  of  the  thirteen  United  States, 
for  the  words  which  he  has  spoken  to  us.  They  were  good — 
without  any  mixture.  Shall  we  observe  that  he  wished  that  if 
the  errors  of  the  hostile  Indians  cnuld  be  discovered,  he  would 
use  his  utmost  exertions  to  remove  them  1 

"  Brother  !  You  and  the  King  of  England  are  the  two 
governing  powers  of  this  Island.  Wliat  are  we  1  You  both 
are  important  and  proud ;  and  you  cannot  adjust  your  own 
affairs  agreeably  to  your  declarations  of  peace.  Therefore  the 
Western  Indians  are  bewildered.  One  says  one  thing  to  them, 
and  one  says  another.  Were  the3e  things  adjusted,  it  would 
be  easy  to  diffuse  peace  every  where. 

"  In  confirmation  of  our  words,  we  give  this  belt,  which  we 
wish  the  President  to  hold  fast  in  remembrance  of  what  we 
have  now  spoken."  .**■ 


This  speech  was  never  before  pubhshed.*     Its  impor- 
tance, in  several  respects,  requires  a  pause  in  the  narra- 

*  The  nutlior  is  indebted  for  the  manuscript  to  .loaeph  W.  Moulton,  Esq.,  who 
began  writing  a  histoiy  of  the  State  of  New- York  some  fifteen  or  twenty  years 
ago,  but  proceeded  no  farther  than  a  si.it,-lo  volume. 


itV 


-^  OF  RED-JACKET.  fil 

vjf  "^-^ 

tive  for  its  consideration.     In  the  first  place,  if  the  orator 
was  really  as  desirous  of  peace  and  amity  with  the  United 
States  as  would  appear  from  the  language  of  the  speech, 
the  English  officers  in  Canada  must  have  lost  their  hold 
upon  his  partialities  since  the  visit  of  Colonel  Proctor  to 
the  frontier  the  preceding  year.     In  the  second  place,  by 
bearing  the  declarations  of  this  speech  in  mind,  the 
reader  will  hereafter  perceive  what  an  entire  revolution 
was  subsequently  wrought  in  the  feelings  of  Red-Jacket, 
in  regard  to  the  civilization  of  his  people.     But  the  most 
important  portion  of  the  harangue  refers  to  a  prominent 
cause  of  the  Indian  war  then  raging,  which  has  thus  far 
been  but  slightly  considered,  viz. : — The  indifference  with 
which  the  Indians  had  been  cut  off,  or  passed  over,  by 
Great  Britain,  in  the  treaty  of  peace.     Notwithstanding 
the  loyalty  of  these  untutored  sons  of  the  forest,  their 
constancy,  and  the  prodigality  with  which  they  had  shed 
their  blood  in  the  cause  of  the  crown,  when  the  ministers 
of  that  crown  found  it  expedient  to  negotiate  for  peace, 
no  one  condition  or  word  was  interposed  in  behalf  of 
allies  thus  faithful,  and  they  were  left  to  shift  for  them- 
selves as  best  they  might.     In  the  impressive  language 
of  Red-Jacket,  "  the  King  showed  them  no  compassion." 
They  had  been  as  dependent  upon  the  crown  as  children 
upon  a  parent ;  and  being  left  to  themselves,  in  a  state 
of  war  with  the  United  States,  although  for  a  time  they 
desisted  from  actual  hostilities,  they  knew  not  what  to 
do.      In  a  word,  to  borrow  another  expressive  phrase 
from  the  Seneca  orator,  "  they  were  bewildered."     The 
consequence  was,  that,  distrusting  the  people  with  whom 

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82 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


they  had  so  recently  been  at  war,  and  neglected  by  those 
in  whom  they  had  confided,  and  who  ought  to  have  stipu- 
lated for  an  honorable  peace  for  them,  as  well  as  for 
themselves,  the  poor  Indians, — children  of  ignorance, 
caprice,  and  passion, — were  left  to  the  resources  of  their 
own  wild  natures,  and  the  chances  of  fortune.  Nor  was 
this  all:  When,  from  a  variety  of  untoward  circum- 
stances, very  shortly  after  the  conclusion  of  the  treaty 
between  the  United  States  and  England,  in  1783,  the 
question  of  peace  or  war  again  hung  long  and  doubt- 
i'uUy  in  the  scales,  those  who  ought  to  have  been  the 
best  counsellors  of  the  Indians  became  their  worst. 
They  were  encouraged  again  to  embark  in  a  war,  which, 
without  the  aid  of  England,  even  the  Indians  themselves 
knew  must  be  hopeless,  and  during  the  continuance  of 
that  war,  were  "paltered  with  in  a  double  sense;"  until, 
but  for  the  humanity  of  those  who,  though  technically 
then  their  enemies,  had  from  the  first  been  in  reality  their 
best  friends,  their  race  would  have  been  annihilated.* 
True  indeed  was  the  assertion  of  Red-Jacket,  that  the 
Indians  were  the  chief  sufferers  from  the  "shaking  of 
the  island"  by  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States;  nor 
is  it  strange  that  in  their  forlorn  situation,  these  untutored 
and  dependent  tenants  of  the  wood  looked  anxiously  to 
the  united  councils  of  the  two  white  nations  with  whom 
only  they  were  acquainted,  to  adjust  for  them  the  terms 
of  peace.     Red-Jacket  has  told  the  story  in  the  preceding 

*  For  an  ample  history  of  the  matters  here  referred  to,  and  documentary  proofs 
of  the  truth  of  the  positions  hero  assumed,  see  Life  of  Brant,  vol.  ii. 


%% 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


83 


speech,  with  the  simple  and  touching  eloquence  of  nature, 
and  there  it  may  be  left. 

On  the  9th  of  April  Colonel  Pickering  communicated 
to  the  chiefs  the  propositions  which  had  been  matured  by 
the  American  government,  as  the  basis  of  its  labors  in 
the  work  of  their  civilization  and  social  improvement. 
The  details  of  that  project  seem  not  to  have  been  pre- 
served. The  general  scope  of  the  plan  may  nevertheless 
be  inferred  from  the  following  stipulation,  to  which  the 
President  asked  the  assent  of  the  Senate  by  a  special 
message  on  the  23d  of  March : — 

"  The  United  States,  in  order  to  promote  the  happiness  of 
the  Five  Nations  of  Indians,  will  cause  to  be  expended,  annu- 
ally, the  amount  of  one  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  in  pur- 
chasing for  them  clothing,  domestic  animals,  and  implements 
of  husbandry,  and  for  encouraging  useful  artificers  to  reside  in 
their  villages." 

Perhaps  a  more  accurate  estimate  of  the  propositions 
submitted  to  the  Indians  may  be  formed  by  a  perusal  of 
the  annexed  speech  from  Red-Jacket,  in  which,  while  he 
assents  to  the  general  tenor  of  the  overtures,  he  suggests 
some  modifications  and  improvements.  The  Indians 
had  indeed  been  requested  by  Colonel  Pickering  to  speak 
their  minds  upon  the  propositions,  and  to  propose  for  co;j- 
sideration  any  alterations  they  should  think  proper.  ..ii'.  - 
<  cordingl}'',  at  the  next  interview,  which  was  on  the  10th 
of  April,  Red-Jacket  spoke  the  minds  of  the  Senecas  as 
follows : — 

"  Brother  Con-neh-sauty  :  Yesterday,  when  you  made 
your  proposals,  the  Oneidas  accepted  them,  and  thanked  you. 


ii:;|q|il| 


pii'  # 


I    » 


\^i 


I  '. 


i 


f  \ 


.  I    II 


I         f 


■-11 


tf   s^ 


84 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


i  III 


They  spoke  for  those  Oneidas,  Onondagas,  and  Tuscaroras 
who  all  lie  under  one  hlanket.*  We,  the  Senecas,  have  con- 
sidered them,  and  are  now  going  to  speak. 

"  Yesterday,  when  you  proposed  four  establishments,  and 
that  there  should  be  three  men  for  each,  you  mentioned  the 
rewards  to  be  given  to  a  certain  number  wlio  should  learn 
quickest — of  the  higgcst  nations,  six — while  those  who  could  not 
learn  fast  must  be  miserable.  If  you  do  right,  you  will  give 
to  all  something  to  work  with  as  fast  as  they  learn,  so  that  all 
may  be  supplied  ;  otherwise  a  strife  will  arise.  But  if  all  are 
to  be  supplied,  all  will  be  encouraged  to  learn.  Another 
thing : — a  great  many  of  our  people  are  poor  women,  who 
have  no  men  in  their  families  :  now  by  supplying  others  in  the 
manner  we  have  suggested,  the  fields  of  the  poor  may  be 
ploughed.  This  will  rouse  the  minds  of  the  whole  nation  to 
learn  what  the  white  people  know. 

"  You  told  us  if  we  liked  what  you  said  we  should  say  so  : 
If  it  was  deficient  in  any  thing,  we  should  tell  what  was 
wanting ; — if  redundant,  we  should  strike  off.  You  mentioned 
the  places  for  the  establishments, — one  was  at  Geneseo,  and 
one  at  Oneida.  We  have  considered  that  at  Oneida  there  are 
a  great  many  people,  Tuscaroras  and  Oneidas,  who  can  help 
one  another ; — and  that  at  Geneseo  there  are  also  Oneidas  and 
Tuscaroras,  who,  being  numerous,  will  want  one  establishment 
for  themselves.  We  wish  you  to  use  them  as  you  do  the 
Senecas,  that  their  minds  may  be  easy.  Perhaps  they  vdll 
learn  quicker,  so  as  to  desire  two  establishments  at  Geneseo. 

"  You  must  not  suppose  that  we  slight  any  thing  that  you 
have  offered.  We  pccept  of  all.  It  is  all  good.  But  we  hope 
that  you  will  not  think  of  making  establishments  at  Buffalo 
Creek,  or  Obeilstown,t  at  present.  For  there  is  some  shaking| 
at  the  extremity  of  our  house.§  There  may  be  some  danger 
to  the  persons  who  might  be  employed. 


to 


U'"^ 


*  Live  in  one  neighborhood. 
X  Trouble. 


t  O'Bail, — the  Cornplanter's  town. 
$  The  border  of  their  country. 


.* 


A.  1 


m^i- 


%jt 


I ." 


OF  REP-JACKET. 


85 


"  There  is  one  thing  which  might  bo  of  great  advantage  to 
us,  which  you  have  not  mentioned  :  that  is  a  saw-mill.  This 
would  help  us  greatly.  We  know  the  cause  of  Mr,  Allen's 
leaving  our  country.*  He  told  us  the  reason  before  ho  went 
away.  And  you  and  we  all  know  that  his  mill  is  over  the  line 
agreed  upon  last  summer  before  you,  and  he  has  gone  away, 
he  says,  because  he  owns  nothing.  Allen  told  us  if  General 
Washington  would  buy  the  mill,  paying  him  just  what  it  cost, 
it  might  be  our's,  and  be  allowed  to  stand  on  our  land.  And  we 
should  rejoice  exceedingly  if  we  could  become  the  proprietors 
of  that  mill.  If  General  Washington  would  buy  it  and  give  it 
to  us,  the  superintendent  might  see  to  the  appraisement  of  it. 

"  You  mentioned  that  this  provision  was  for  those  of  our 
nations  who  live  on  this  side  of  the  Lakes.  But  perhaps  our 
brothers  at  Grand  River,  when  they  see  those  things  introduced 
among  us,  may  fall  in  love  with  them,  and  want  to  come  and 
join  us.  We  therefore  wish  that  the  plan  may  be  so  formed 
as  to  comprehend  all.  For  our  peace  is  in  a  weak,  languid 
condition,  just  expiring,  and  we  would  avoid  giving  offence  to 
any  of  our  brothers.  There  are  two  roads  :  perhaps  they  on 
the  other  side  of  the  watert  may  take  our  road.  Therefore 
we  wish  you  to  extend  your  invitation  to  the  whole  Six  Nations, 
and  press  them  to  join  us  when  peace  shall  take  place.  We 
shall  desire  the  proposed  establishments  may  be  made  at  Buffalo 
and  Alleghany. 

"  It  was  the  custom  of  our  fathers,  when  they  had  finished 
any  particular  business,  to  talk  over  affairs  of  general  concern. 

*  Ebenezer  Allen,  a  tory,  who  fled  from  Pennsylvania  and  joined  the  Senecas. 
He  was  a  monster  of  iniquity,  accoi'ding  to  Mary  Jemison,  the  white  woman, 
whose  life  contains  a  chapter  devoted  to  him.  After  the  war  he  became  a  trader. 
He  had  several  successive  Indian  wives,  and  afterward  married  a  white  woman. 
He  once  drowned  a  Dutch  trader,  and  committed  many  other  enormities.  He 
built  the  first  mill  at  the  Genesee  falls,  now  Rochester,  under  the  authority  of 
Phelps  and  Gorham, — they  having  obtained  a  special  grant  of  a  territory  at  that 
place,  of  the  Indians,  twelve  by  twenty-four  miles  in  extent,  for  "  a  mill-yard  J" 
Allen  ultimately  fled  from  the  United  States,  and  died  at  Grand  River. 
„      t  Meaning  the  Indians  at  Grand  River,  in  Upper  Canada. 


i.;  ■ 


MM 

,i  I  f  i;  .1 

■lit;  1411 

;  r«'l  l^ 


.  =  v!* 


1! 


I 


Ih 


;i 


^'  .^  ^- 


] 

j. 

1 

if::.  ! 

i ;  ■  r 

,i  1 

i:  1 

i  •■  1 

:    51 

1    '  ;|  ■ 

j;,t| 

1 

1  ■ 

i 

i 

jIII 

m  '! 


1    •! 


86 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


Now  we  wish  Congress  to  hasten  to  make  peace  with  the  hos- 
tile Indians  who  are  alongside  of  us.  We  both  have  our  eyes 
to  the  place  where  the  trouble  lies.     This  is  all  we  have  to 


say 


>'# 


This  address  has  not  been  preserved  because  of  its 
eloquence.  It  is  a  mere  business  recital,  and  claims  no 
higher  character.  But  it  forms  a  feature  in  the  history  of 
this  first  effort  to  introduce  the  blessings  of  civilization 
among  the  Six  Nations,  and  it  also  serves  to  illustrate  the 
views  entertained  at  that  time  by  a  notable  chief,  who 
subsequently  became  one  of  the  most  steady  and  impla- 
cable opponents  of  that  beneficent  policy.  It  is  therefore 
neither  a  useless  document,  nor  out  of  place  in  this  con- 
nexion. 

The  speeches,  or  addresses,  recited  in  the  preceding 
pages  of  the  present  chapter,  had  been  interchanged 
before  the  speech  of  Red-Jacket  in  reply  to  that  of  the 
President  had  been  formally  answered  by  Colonel 
Pickering,  upon  whom  the  duty  of  making  such  answer 
had  devolved.  The  Colonel  discharged  this  duty  at  an 
interview,  appointed  for  the  purpose,  on  the  17th  day  of 
April.  Under  ordinary  circumstances,  involving  matters 
of  less  importance,  a  document  of  the  length  of  Colonel 
Pickering's  address,  instead  of  being  inserted  entire  in 
the  text,  would  have  been  epitomized,  or  transferred 
to  the  appendix.  But  the  address  is  so  closely  inter- 
woven with  that  benevolent  feature  of  Washington's 
early  Indian  poHcy  which  contemplated   their  moral 

'    *  The  author  is  indebted  to  the  researches  of  Joseph  W.  Moulton,  Esq.,  for  a 
copy  of  this  speech. 


,    « 

you 

* 

of  a 

lief; 

■f 

evei 

4 

thin 

OF  RED-JACKET. 


87 


and  social  elevation,  and  passes  in  review  so  many- 
facts  blended  with  the  Indian  relations  of  the  United 
States  at  the  period  under  consideration,  that  its  insertion 
at  length  seems  to  be  required.  It  serves  to  elucidate,  in 
language  equally  concise  and  clear,  the  causes,  and  the 
merits,  of  the  war  then  raging  with  the  north-western 
Indians,  while  it  discloses,  in  refreshing  relief,  the  just 
and  humane  views  of  the  President,  and  the  pohcy  by 
which  his  administration  was  marked,  in  regard,  not  only 
to  the  Six  Nations,  but  to  the  various  tribes  of  the  abori- 
ginal family  within  the  confines  of  the  republic. 

The  chiefs  having  assembled,  and  the  council  been 
opened  in  due  form  on  the  day  above  stated,  Colonel 
Pickering  addressed  them  as  follows : — 

"  Brothers  op  the  Five  Nations  :  Some  days  ago  you 
delivered  your  answer  to  the  President's  speech.  According 
to  your  custom,  you  repeated  the  principal  parts  of  it,  and 
expressed  your  thanks  for  the  friendly  sentiments  it  contained, 
whicb  had  made  your  hearts  glad.  You  rejoiced  that  the 
President  considered  you  as  freemen,  and  desired  you  to  speak 
* .  "<■  with  freedom  ;  and  then  you  joined  with  the  President  in  his 
wish  that  all  the  evils  which  had  hitherto  disturbed  our  peace 
might  be  buried  in  oblivion.  You  declared  your  belief  that 
this  island  came  from  the  Great  Spirit,  that  you  considered 
yourselves  as  in  his  presence,  and  that  he  is  the  proprietor 
.  of  all. 

"  Brothers  !  We,  your  white  brethren,  have  the  same  be- 
lief; as  He  made,  so  He  governs  the  world.  He  has  so  disposed 
events  that  we  should  meet  at  this  place,  to  consult  on  those 
things  which  may  prove  blessings  to  you  and  your  posterity. 
We,  your  brethren  of  the  United  States,  rejoice  that  your 
hearts  are  thus  inclined.  Many  good  men  have  wished  to  see 
such  a  day,  when  the  knowledge  possessed  by  the  white  people 


■  U 


''''1  '  ll  i't 


i  I >i 


m 


rfili  HI: 

■|;t 


1, 

n 

<            ,1    ^-41 

:    ,r;i 

; 

•i' ' 

1 

\    i 

i 

i                   "  ■      ' 

%•  'M 

; 

J 

1!  % 

N.Ji 


Ih 


S8 


.* 

^■^ 

-Hi- 

^'>:," 

■f 

^. 

LIFE  AND  TIMES 

s 

'  %'t 


might  be  introduced  among  you,  the  nations  of  this  land.  Such 
good  men  have  long  been  searching,  but  with  small  success, 
for  a  path  by  which  this  knowledge  might  be  carried  amongst 
you.  Now  we  think  we  have  discovered  the  true  path  ;  and 
you  begin  to  see  it.  But  you  must  be  very  careful  lest  you 
lose  sight  of  it.  Your  nephews,  the  Stockbridge  Indians, 
know  the  path  so  well  that  they  can  now  walk  on  boldly ;  and 
the  Oneidas  are  following  in  their  steps.  By  and  by  the  path 
will  be  extended  through  all  your  countries,  and  T  hope  to  see 
it  so  plainly  marked  that  not  one  of  all  your  nations  shall 
miss  it. 

"  Brothers  !  You  not  only  see  this  path,  but  think  it  a 
good  one  ;  and  therefore  you  express  your  wishes  to  see  the 
President's  words  verified  to  your  children  and  children's 
children.  You  observed  that  we  enjoyed  all  the  good  things 
of  this  life,  and  that  you  looked  to  us  to  make  provision  that 
the  same  might  be  enjoyed  by  your  children.  But  you  desii'ed 
that  this  might  be  done  by  degrees.  This  is  right.  For  you 
know  when  a  traveller  gets  ujjon  a  new  track  that  he  can  but 
just  discern,  if  he  hurries  along  he  will  be  in  danger  of  losing 
it  altogether. 

"  Brothers  !  Some  of  you  are  grown  old ;  others  are  of 
my  age  ;  and  some  are  much  younger.  But  even  the  oldest  of 
you  may  see  many  of  your  children  walking  in  this  new  path. 
Look  forward  ten,  fifteen,  or  twenty  years ;  for  many  of  us 
may  live  so  long ;  and  then  wo  may  see  our  children  meet 
together  and  speak  with  one  tongue.  Or  if  your  children  are 
in  your  country,  and  our's  are  here,  yet  they  can  then  .yieak  on 
paper,  with  the  same  ease  and  certainty  as  if  they  stood  face 
to  face. 

"  Brothers  !    Does  not  this  thought  give  you  pleasure  1 

"  Brothers  !  You  took  notice  of  what  the  President  said 
to  you  relative  to  the  war  with  the  western  Indians  j  that  he 
was  not  the  cause  of  it,  but  lamented  it ;  and  would  be  happy 
in  the  discovery  of  the  means  by  which  peace  could  be  restored. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


89 


You  then  wishetl  mc  to  point  out  to  you  what  I  tliought  was 
the  real  cause  of  the  war. 

"  Brothers  !  This  perhaps  would  be  a  difficult  task.  We 
have  heard  that  the  minds  of  the  western  Indians  have  been 
disturbed  on  account  of  their  lands,  which  at  the  treaty  of 
peace  with  Great  Britain,  fell  within  the  boundary  of  tho 
United  States.  But  as  it  has  ever  been  our  strong  desire  to 
establish  peace,  and  to  remove  every  cause  of  jealousy  and 
discontent — I  now  solemnly  declare  to  you  tliat  we  claim  none 
of  those  lands,  except  such  of  them  as  we  have  purchased  at 
treaties  held  with  the  Indians,  who,  as  owners,  undertook  to 
sell  them.  All  other  lands  of  tho  Indians  we  renounce.  The 
President,  with  his  own  mouth,  has  made  the  same  declaration  ; 
and  if  you  look  into  the  great  parchment  which  he  gave  tho 
Cornplanter,  you  will  see  it  under  his  hand.  Let  this  be 
strongly  impressed  on  your  mind.  ]Jut  I  am  informed  that 
some  of  the  western  Indians  who  joined  with  the  British  and 
took  up  the  hatchet  sixteen  years  ago,  have  never  laid  it  down 
to  this  day.  Yet  measures  were  taken  by  Congress  for  making 
peace  with  all  the  Indian  nations, — with  those  at  the  west- 
ward as  well  as  with  you :  and  runners  were  sent  at  the  same 
time  to  invite  them  to  a  treaty.  The  like  invitation  has  been 
several  times  renewed.  But  the  Miami  and  Wabsish  Indians 
never  would  attend.  The  only  nations  at  tho  westward  who 
have  entered  into  treaties  with  us,  are  tho  Shawancse,  about 
six  years  ago,  at  a  council  fire  at  tho  mouth  of  tho  Miami, 
which  runs  into  tlie  Ohio,  and  the  Dolawarcs,  Wyandots,  Ot- 
tawas,  and  Chippewas,  who  attended  the  treaty  at  Fort 
Mcintosh,  seven  years  ago,  and  ceded  part  of  tiieir  lands  ;  and 
tho  Pottawattamies  and  Sacs,  who,  with  the  Delawar-js,  Wy- 
andots, Ottawas,  and  Chippewas,  attended  tlie  treaty  at  Musk- 
ingum, about  three  years  ago,  when  the  treaty  at  Fort  Mcin- 
tosh'was  renewed  and  confirmed.  Almut  two  years  ago  a 
fresh  messenger  was  sent  'o  the  hostile  Indians,  to  invitt;  tliem 
to  a  treaty  of  peace  :  but  luuy  refused  to  come,  and  repealed 
their  outrages  with  increased  violence. 

12 


i 


'mm 


IT  :t 


xm 


P 

;  I 


'  I,?: 


90 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


"  Brothers  !  It  will  surprise  you  to  hear  that  these  hostile 
Indians,  in  their  various  incursions  on  our  frontiers  since  we 
made  peace  with  the  British,  have  killed  upwai'd  of  one  thou- 
sand five  hundred  of  our  defenceless  men,  women  and  chil- 
dren !  I  speak  not  of  warriors ; — but  only  of  quiet,  harmless 
people,  who  were  following  their  peaceable  employments. 
Such  is  our  information.  After  all  these  things  could  we  do 
otherwise  than  send  armies  into  their  country  ]  It  is  true  we 
have  been  unfortunate.  But  we  are  not  discouraged,  though 
we  desire  to  put  an  end  to  the  war.  For  what  good  can 
arise  from  the  continuance  of  it  1  We  want  nothing  which  be- 
longs to  the  hostile  Indians.  Why  then  should  they  continue 
their  depredations  ?  If  any  of  them  have  made  war  on  account 
of  the  lands  purchased  of  them  since  the  peace  made  with  the 
British,  I  can  only  say  that  the  (xreat  Council  of  the  [Jnited 
States  appointed  Commissioners  to  treat  with  them  on  that 
subject,  and  to  give  them  a  large  quantity  of  goods.  A  num- 
ber of  chiefs  signed  the  deeds ;  and  fi-om  the  reports  of  the 
Commissioners  it  was  supposed  the  lands  were  fairly  obtained. 
And  in  consequence  thereof,  largo  tracts  have  since  been  sold. 
Some  to  the  citizens  of  the  LTnited  States,  and  some  to  the 
people  of  your  ancient  Father,  the  King  of  the  French,  who 
have  gone  and  built  houses  and  planted  coi'n  in  that  country. 
Hence  you  see  how  difficult  it  would  be  to  restore  that  land 
to  the  Indians,  even  if  those  chiefs  who  signed  the  deeds  were 
not  a  complete  rejiresentation  of  the  nations  v/ho  owned  the 
land.  But  there  is  one  thing  which  the  United  States,  who 
desire  nothing  b»it  what  is  just,  will  choerfully  do.  They  will 
attentively  hear  the  complaints  of  the  western  Indians  ;  they 
will  re-examine  the  treaties,  and  inquire  into  the  manner  in 
which  they  were  conducted  ;  and  if  the  complaints  of  the 
western  Indians  appear  to  be  well  founded,  the  United  States 
will  mak»!  them  ample  compensation  for  their  lands.  They 
will  do  more.  The  United  Statt^s,  so  far  from  desiring  to  in- 
jure the  western  Indians,  would  rather  do  them  good  ;  and 
cheerfully  impart  to  them  that  knowledge  and  those  arts  which 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


91 


you  are  now  convinced  will  be  so  beneficial  to  your  nations, 
and  which  you  have  cordially  agreed  to  accept. 

"  Brother.s  !  What  are  the  obstacles  to  so  much  good  1 
Are  they  not  the  jealousies  and  prejudices  entertained  by  the 
western  Indians  against  the  United  States  ]  As  though  we 
wished  for  their  destruction ; — or  if  they  had  been  wronged, 
that  we  were  determined  never  to  do  what  was  right.  But 
these  obstacles  would  vanish,  if  we  could  persuade  them  to 
come  near  enough  to  hear  our  voice.  For  they  would  soon 
find  it  to  be  the  voice  of  justice,  kmdness,  and  peace. 

"  Bhotheus  !  You  have  a  regard  to  the  people  of  your  own 
color,  and  you  arc  the  friends  of  the  United  States.  Perhaps 
as  friends  to  both  parties,  you  may  have  it  in  your  power,  and 
be  disposed  to  speak  to  the  western  Indians,  to  convince 
them  that  war  is  not  necessary  to  enable  them  to  obtain  jus- 
tice ;  and  that  the  United  States  have  no  desire  to  revenge 
the  injuries  they  have  received. 

"  Brotheus  !  Some  of  ^/ou  were  once  our  enemies  :  but 
now  you  arc  our  friends  ;  and  you  have  strong  proof  of  the 
kindness  of  our  hearts  toward  you.  In  like  manner  let  peace 
take  place  with  the  western  Indians,  and  they  will  immedi- 
ately find  us  equally  kind  to  them. 

"  Brothers  !  Perhaps  some  of  the  western  Indians  have 
never  yet  distinctly  heard  our  voice  inviting  them  to  peace. 
Possibly  our  white  runners  did  not  go  near  enough  to  make 
them  all  hear ;  or  perhaps  the  noise  of  the  guns  prevented 
their  hearing.  But  it  may  be  in  your  power  to  go  among 
them  and  put  your  voice  directly  into  their  ears. 

"  Brothers  !  I  mention  this  matter  to  you,  because  it  is  im- 
portant to  us,  your  friends,  and  to  the  people  of  your  own 
color.  If  you  please  you  can  consider  of  it.  But  you  are 
perfectly  free  to  speak  and  to  act  according  to  your  own 
judgment. 

"  1  Brothers  !  You  mentioned  some  other  things  in  your 
sptiecli,  which  I  have  duly  attended  to  ;  but  it  would  be  tedious 
to  repeat  them  all.     However,  as  you  referred  to  the  treaty  of 


I*' 


II™ 


92 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


i<l 


peace  made  between  us  and  the  British,  and  gave  your  opinion, 
that  if  all  the  articles  of  it  were  completely  fulfilled,  the  diffi- 
culties with  the  western  Indians  would  cease  :*  I  will  just 
observe,  that  although  every  thing  in  that  treaty  is  not  accom- 
phshed,  yet  the  peace  between  us  and  the  British  is  not  there- 
by disturbed.  We  constantly  trade  together,  and  maintain  a 
fi'iendly  intercourse  with  each  other  ;  and  all  remaining  differen- 
ces will  doubtless  be  quietly  settled.  This  being  the  case,  those 
must  be  bad  people  who  make  a  handle  of  those  differences  to 
encourage  the  Indians  to  war.  Such  bad  men,  whatever  may 
bo  their  pretences,  are  equally  enemies  to  the  Indians  and  to 


us. 


To  this  wise  and  conciliatory  speech,  breathing 
throughout  a  spirit  of  benevolence  and  justice,  the  two 
chiefs,  Farmers'-Brother  and  Red-Jacket,  rejoined  in 
succession,  and  at  the  same  interview, — a  circumstance 
rather  remarkable  in  Indian  diplomacy.  Farmers'- 
Brother  spoke  as  follows ;  first  to  his  own  people : — 

"  Brothers  or  the  Five  Nations,  attend  while  I  address 
myself  in  your  presence  to  my  Brother  Con-neh-sauty,  the 
Representative  on  this  occasion,  of  the  thirteen  United  States. 

Turning  then  to  Colonel   Pickering,  he   proceeded : — 

"  Brother  !  You  have  this  day  spoken  to  us.  Your  speech 
has  been  long.  As  a  part  of  it  referred  to  what  you  had  before 
communicated  to  us  at  large,  we  shall  not  now  make  any  re- 
ply, liut  in  the  close  of  your  talk  to  us,  you  mentioned  one 
subject  of  great  importance,  which  related  to  the  state  of  the 
hostile  Indians  toward  the  setting  sun.  You  gave  us  your 
opinion  of  the  causes  of  their  being  in  a  hostile  state  ; — we  shall 
now  assign  some  reasons,  as  they  lie  in  our  minds. 

•  This  vns  thn  opinion  of  Fisher  Amo.  Seo  hU  masterly  speech  upon  the 
question  of  ratifying  Mr.  Joy's  treaty. 


(-; 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


93 


"  Brother  !  You  desired  us  to  speak  our  minds  freely  upon 
this  subject,  as  we  were  a  free  and  independent  people.  "VVe 
thank  you  for  the  declaration.  We  shall  do  it.  Your  Brothers 
of  the  Five  Nations  have  been  exceedingly  distressed  in  their 
minds  since  your  peace  with  the  British,  that  things  at  the 
westward  were  not  settled  to  your  satisfaction.  Wc  shall  now 
assign  but  a  few  of  the  princijjal  reasons  of  the  hostilities  in  that 
quarter ;  for  there  will  be  no  time  to  descend  to  all  the  par- 
ticulars. 

"  Brother  !  Continue  to  hear  us.  It  is  true  there  was  a 
treaty  held  at  Fort  Mcintosh,  where  were  a  few  deputies  from 
several  nations  composed  of  such  as  were  hunting  roin  I  in 
the  bush;  and  not  of  the  real  chiefs.*  About  a  year  fter 
this,  a  large  delegation  of  the  Five  Nations  went  into  the 
Shawanese  country,  where  a  gi'cat  council  was  called,  from  all 
the  nations  in  that  quarter.  After  some  time  spent  in  coun- 
selling, and  it  being  difficult  to  continue  longer  in  so  great  a 
body,  for  want  of  provisions ;  the  wan'iors  went  out  to  get 
something  to  season  their  broth,  and  to  cover  their  feet.  At 
the  same  time  some  runners  were  sent  out  to  call  in  distant 
nations.  And  behold !  at  this  juncture,  the  Big-Knife  came 
into  their  country,  to  the  very  town  where  they  were  assem- 
bled, and  took  and  destroyed  the  town,  killed  all  the  old 
chiefs,  and  extinguished  the  council-fire.  This  happened 
but  one  season  after  the  treaty  held  at  Fort  Mcintosh.  I 
say  that  this  extinguished  the  council-fire,  which  was  then 

*  This  treaty  was  negotiated  by  Gen.  St.  Clair,  in  1785.  The  Indians  ever 
afterward,  as  well  the  nations  said  to  have  been  ropresentt'd,  as  the  Six  Nations, 
contended  that  it  was  not  the  resu:;  of  a  fair  negotiation, — in  other  words,  as 
Farmer'a-Brother  maintained,  they  held  that  the  nations  concerned  were  not 
properly  roprosonted,  and  they  therefore  contended  that  the  treaty  was  not  binding. 
It  had  doubtless  been  the  policy  of  the  Indians,  both  the  Six  Nations  and  tiioso 
of  the  north-west,  to  act  together  in  one  grand  confederacy,  but  General  St.  Clair 
availed  himself  of  a  moment  of  jealousy  between  them,  and  dexterously  con- 
trived to  institute  separnto  negotiations.  Still  the  great  body  of  the  Indians 
wern  never  satisfied  with  that  procedure.  See  letter  of  Gen.  St.  Clair  to  the 
President.    Indian  Statu  Tapers,  vol.  i.,  p.  10-11. 


MI 


i.      >u 


m 


1  ■'  .1 


I    •> 


'ill 


I 


•    I 


ii:i 


94 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


kindled  for  the  purpose  of  a  general  peace.  For,  shocking  to 
tell !  the  Big- Knife  killed  the  old  chief  who  had  then  in  his 
hands  the  treaty  of  Fort  Mcintosh,,  and  the  flag  of  the  United 
States  then  received.  Hence  we  conceive  that  the  Virginians 
themselves  at  that  time  broke  the  peace.* 

"  After  this,  we  of  the  Five  Nations,  and  Delawares,  and 
others,  moved  the  council  fire  to  the  place  called  the  Standing 
Stone.  And  we,  your  brothers  of  the  Five  Nations,  endea- 
vored to  quiet  their  disturbed  minds,  speaking  to  thera  of  the 
disaster  which  had  befallen  them. 

"  Now  at  this  removed  council  fire,  the  Wyandot  and  Dela- 
■vares  replied  to  us  of  the  Five  Nations,  in  the  following 
manner  : — 

" '  iiec,  Brothers !  While  you  are  kindling  these  council 
'  fires  in  the  bushes,  evil  has  come  upon  us.     We  expected  it 

*  would  be  so  ;  and  we  therefore  must  blame  you,  for  having 

*  so  much  confidence  in  the  Big-Knife.  Moreover,  we  must 
'  thank  you  that  you  have  come  so  far  into  our  country,  and  are 

*  now  at  the  place  where  the  ancient  council  fire  was  kindled, 
'  the  light  of  which  reached  to  the  clouds,  and  was  seen  by  all 
'  the  Five  Nations.     We  arc  glad  that  you  still  talk  to  us  upon 

*  It  is  difficult  to  ascertain  with  cortiiinty  to  wliat  transaction  the  speaker  here 
refers.  But  it  is  most  likely  lie  was  speaking  of  a  friendly  town  of  Indians, 
called  the  Piankeshaws,  living  upon  the  Wabash.  In  a  rei)ort  upon  the  Indian 
relations  of  the  country,  by  General  Knox,  Secretary  of  AVar,  to  the  President, 
dated  .June  15,  1789,  it  is  remarked  that  since  the  conclusion  of  the  revolution- 
ary war,  in  1783,  the  United  States  had  formed  no  treaties  with  the  Indians  of 
the  Wabash  country,  and  that  hostilities  had  almost  constantly  existed  between 
the  people  tA'  Kentucky  and  the  said  Indians.  "  The  injuries  and  murders," 
said  the  Scciotary,  "  have  been  so  reciprocal,  Inat  it  would  be  a  point  of  criti- 
cal investigation  to  know  on  which  side  they  have  been  the  greatest."  The 
Secretary  added, — "  Scjme  of  the  inhabitants  of  Kentucky,  during  the  past  year, 
(1788,)  roused  by  recent  injuries,  made  an  invasion  into  the  Wabash  country, 
and,  possessing  an  ecjual  aversion  to  all  bearing  the  name  of  Indians,  they  de- 
stroyed a  number  of  peaconblo  Piankeshaws,  who  piided  themselves  on  their 
attachment  to  the  United  States."  Is  it  cause  of  wonder,  then,  that  the  less  en- 
lightened savages,  who  were  liable  to  such  treatment,  Hhould  look  upon  "  all 
the  whites  with  equal  aversion?" 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


95 


*  the  subject  of  a  general  peace,  and  that  we  should  still  use 

*  our  endeavors  to  effect  it  among  all  the  Indian  nations  in  this 
'  quarter,' 

"  Our  elder  brother,  the  Mohawk,  then  spoke,  and  gave  them 
great  thanks,  that  they  would  still  endeavor  to  establish  peace, 
and  promised  to  write  the  Congress  on  the  subject. 

"  Brother  !  The  Five  Nations  were  the  cause  of  the  at- 
tendance on  the  treaty  at  the  Falls  of  Muskingum.  Some  of 
us  went  by  Fort  Pitt,  to  take  all  in  that  route.  These  fir^^t 
arrived  at  Muskingum.  Another  party  went  by  Detroit,  to 
bring  all  from  that  quarter.  At  length,  when  we  had  arrived 
at  the  place  called  the  High  Hills,  it  was  determined  that  a 
runner  should  be  sent  to  Muskingum  to  know  the  business  of 
the  treaty.  Accordingly,  Captain  David,  of  the  Mohawk  Na- 
tion, who  is  since  dead,  was  chosen  for  this  purpose. 

"  When  the  runner  went  to  the  place  (which  was  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Muskingum)  and  was  returning,  he  met  the  main 
body  at  the  Falls,  (which  was  about  half  way,)  going  on  to 
the  council  fire.  Captain  David  brought  back  a  large  piece  of 
writing.  And  when  it  was  read,  (as  it  was  by  Brant,)  all  that 
it  spoke  was  in  regard  to  their  lands ;  and  they  found  that  all 
the  Commissioner  wanted  was  to  get  their  lands.  This  dis- 
turbed all  their  minds, — when  they  found  all  that  was  wanted 
was  to  get  their  lands, — and  it  shocked  the  minds  of  the  Five 
Nations. 

"  All  the  Indians  then  wont  back,  except  the  Senecas,  and 
one  out  of  each  other  of  the  Five  Nations,  and  some  of  the 
Delawares  and  Wyandots.  These  went  on  to  the  council  fire 
of  the  Commissioner,  because  it  had  been  burning  all  the  sea- 
son, waiting  for  them.  Here  their  minds  were  made  uneasy, 
because  the  Commissioner  marked  out  their  lands  as  he  saw  fit, 
and  just  told  them  what  he  did,  saying,  "  I  am  going  to  have  so 
much."  The  Five  Nations  tried  to  assist  those  nations,  but 
could  not.  For  the  Commissioner  said,  I  hare  nothing  to  do 
with  you,  the  Five  Nations,  but  only  with  these  other  nations 


■  i 


',  •  I,; 


^:f 


II  h 


:i|v 


96 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


who  own  the  lands.     Then  our  minds  sank  within  us,  and  we 
said  no  more. 

"  Then  the  Commissioner  marked  off  big  pieces,  describing 
them,  and  said,  so  much  I  must  have.  The  nations  meant  to 
have  the  line  run  along  the  heads  of  the  small  creeks,  running 
into  the  Alleghany ;  but  the  Commissioner  said  that  was  not 
enough,  but  that  he  wanted  the  line  to  run  so  far  back  as  to 
go  upon  the  heads  of  the  waters  running  into  Lake  Erie ; 
and  he  extended  it  accordingly  toward  the  Mississippi. 

"  Brother  !  You  said  perhaps  the  voice  of  the  runner  of 
the  United  States  had  not  gone  near  enough  to  the  western 
Indians  for  them  to  hear  it.     This  was  the  case. 

"  Brother  !  You  desired  us  to  speak  our  minds  freely  upon 
this  subject,  to  wit :  the  causes  of  the  uneasiness  among  the 
western  Indians.  We  have  now  candidly  related  to  you 
from  step  to  step  these  facts ;  which  from  small  beginnings 
have  increased  to  an  extensive  breach  of  our  peace. 

"  Brother  !  Possess  your  mind  in  peace.  This  matter 
does  not  immediately  concern  us — but  you  desired  us  to  speak. 

The  Farmers'-Brother  having  ended,  Red-Jacket  rose 
and  spoke  as  follows : — 

"  Brother  Con-neh-sauty,  who  have  been  appoint, ''  ^y 
the  President  to  represent  the  United  States  in  the  business 
on  which  we  were  invited,  now  attend  ! 

"  You  spoke  to  us  on  our  first  arrival ;  and  a  few  days 
since  you  opened  the  whole  business  which  respects  our 
national  happiness.  After  this,  you  adverted  to  the  troubled 
state  of  the  nations  at  the  westward ;  and  mentioned  what  you 
supposed  were  the  causes  of  those  troubles  among  the  various 
nations  in  that  quarter ;  and  you  desired  us  to  speak  our  minds 
freely  on  this  subject. 

"  Brother  :  You  have  heard  the  two  principal  causes  of 
those  troubles.  Those  two  causes,  as  we  apprehend,  were 
these, — the  destroying  of  the  town  by  Big-Knife,  and  killing 


OF  REP-JACKET, 


97 


the  old  man,  while  the  nations  were  met  counselling  for  peace ; 
and  the  smallness  of  the  number  who  attended  the  treaty  at 
Muskingum,  and  the  affair  of  the  lands.  For  we,  the  Five 
Nations,  had  to  give  up  our  judgments  to  what  the  Commis- 
sioner dictated,  and  that  was  the  reason  there  were  so  many 
names  to  the  writing, 

"  Brother  :  You  have  now  heard  the  causes  of  the  uneasi- 
ness among  the  western  Indians  ;  you  said  you  wished  to  know 
the  cause*  of  those  hostilities,  that  you  might  remove  them. 
Here  they  are,  as  we  consider  them.  Now  it  is  our  wish  that 
the  President  and  Congress  would  exert  themselves  to  remove 
them.  You  have  manifested  a  desire  to  put  the  burthen  of 
bringing  you  and  the  western  Indians  together,  ujDon  our  shoul- 
ders ;  but  it  is  too  heavy  for  us  to  bear  without  your  assistance. 

"  Brother  :  Continue  to  hear !  We  are  not  able  to  go 
forward  with  this  gi'eat  business  alone.  Therefore,  if  you  earn- 
estly wish  for  the  restoration  of  peace  as  your  words  have  ex- 
pressed, let  us  have  some  assistance.  Let  there  be  one  voice 
between  you  and  the  British,  who  are  by  our  fireside,  to  effect 
this  object.  True,  you  have  drawn  a  line  between  them  and 
you ;  and  the  line  comes  near  to  us.  But  we  think  you  are 
too  proud  to  act  together  upon  this  business.  And  unless  you 
go  to  the  western  Indians,  how  will  you  convince  them  that 
you  mean  to  do  them  justice  1 

"  Brother  :  We  of  the  Five  Nations  have  not  settled  all 
the  affairs  pertaining  to  our  peace, — and  it  will  give  gieat  joy 
to  our  minds  if  you  can  extend  peace  to  the  western  nations. 
What  we  have  proposed,  we  think  would  be  a  healing  medi- 
cine. Therefore,  when  we  have  completed  our  business  with 
you,  we  shall  be  glad  to  communicate  this  to  the  people  of  our 
color  to  the  westward. 

"  Brother  :  While  you  ai'e  yet  hearing,  let  us  remind  you 
of  your  own  words, — '  verily  you  must  love  those  of  your 
'  own  color :  and  we  believe  also  that  you  are  friends  to  us.' 

"  Brother  :  You  have  spoken  truly :  we  do  love  both, — we 

13 


'M 


'  i. 


h\   ':  i 


m 


I'll  i^'i'l 


!■■; ' 


98 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


also  love  our  common  peace.  Therefore  have  we  thus  ad- 
vised to  this  healing  medicine,  which,  alone,  we  think,  will 
complete  a  cure  of  all  the  wounds. 

"  Brother  :  This  is  all  we  have  now  to  say.  You  see  that  it 
is  a  pleasant  day  ;  an  emblem  of  the  pleasure  and  joy  now  dif- 
fused through  all  here  present,  for  indeed  it  has  been  a  coun- 
selling day, — a  day  of  business." 

The  consultations  being  about  to  close,  on  the  25th  of 
April  the  President  transmitted  to  the  chiefs  the  annexed 
farewell  address  : — 


I.  I 


"  My  Children  op  the  Five  Nations  ! 

"  You  were  invited  here  at  my  request,  in  order  that  mea- 
sures should  be  concerted  with  you,  to  impart  such  of  the 
blessings  of  civilization,  as  may  at  present  suit  your  condition, 
and  give  you  further  desires  to  improve  your  own  happiness. 

"  Colonel  Pickering  has  made  the  particular  arrangements 
with  you  to  carry  into  execution  these  objects, — all  of  which 
I  hereby  approve  and  confirm. 

"  And  in  order  that  the  money  necessary  to  defray  the  an- 
nual expenses  of  the  arrangements  which  have  been  made, 
should  be  provided  permanently,  I  now  ratify  an  article  which 
will  secure  the  yearly  appropriation  of  the  sum  of  one  thou- 
sand five  hundred  dollars,  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  Five 
Nations, — the  Stockbritlge  Indians  included. 

"  The  United  States  having  received  and  provided  for  you 
as  for  a  part  of  themselves,  will,  I  am  persuaded,  be  strongly 
and  giatefully  impressed  on  your  minds,  and  those  of  all  your 
tribes. 

"  Let  it  be  spread  abi'oad  among  all  your  villages,  and 
throughout  your  land,  that  the  United  States  are  desirous  not 
only  of  a  general  peace  with  all  the  Indian  tribes,  but  of  being 
their  friends  and  protectors. 

"  It  has  been  my  direction,  and  I  hope  it  has  been  executed 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


99 


to  your  satisfaction,  that  during  your  residence  here  you  should 
be  well  fed,  well  lodged,  and  well  clothed,  and  that  presents 
should  be  furnished  to  your  wives  and  families. 

"  I  partake  of  your  sorrow  on  account  that  it  has  pleased 
the  Great  Spirit  to  take  from  you  two  of  your  number  by 
death,  since  your  residence  in  this  city.*  I  have  ordered  that 
your  tears  should  be  wiped  away  according  to  your  custom, 
and  tliat  presents  should  be  sent  to  the  relations  of  the  de- 
ceased. 

"  Our  lives  are  all  in  the  hands  of  our  Maker,  and  wo  must 
part  with  them  whenever  he  shall  demand  them, — and  the  sur- 
vivors must  submit  to  events  they  cannot  prevent. 

"  Having  happily  settled  all  your  business,  and  being  about 
to  return  to  your  owii  country,  I  wish  you  a  pleasant  journey, 
and  that  you  may  safely  return  to  your  families,  after  so  long 
a  journey,  and  find  them  in  good  health. 

"  Given  under  my  hand,  at  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  this 
twenty-fifth  day  of  April,  1792. 

(Signed)        GEO.  WASHINGTON." 

The  conferences  were  finally  closed  on  the  30th  of 
April,  to  the  mutual  satisfaction  of  both  parties.  The 
chiefs  had  not  only  agreed  to  try,  with  their  people,  to 
become  civilized,  but  had  likewise  stipulated  to  send  a 

*  One  of  the  chiefs  to  whose  decease  General  Washington  liere  referred  was 
Peter  Ja([ucttc,  a  loading  sachem  of  the  Oneidas,  who  died  on  the  19th  of  March, 
soon  after  the  deputation  arrived  in  Philadelphia.  Peter  had  been  taken  to 
Franco  by  the  Marquis  dc  la  Fayette,  (on  that  nobleman's  retu.-n  homo  after  the 
close  of  the  revolutionary  war,)  where  he  received  an  education.  The  Pennsyl- 
vania Gazette  of  that  day  thus  described  the  funeral  of  the  chief: — "  His  funeral 
was  attended  from  Oder's  hotel  to  the  Presbyterian  burying  ground  in  Mulberry- 
street.  The  corpse  was  preceded  by  a  detachment  of  the  light  infantry  of  the 
city,  with  arms  reversed,  drums  mutHed,  and  the  music  playing  a  solemn  dirge. 
The  corpse  was  followed  by  six  of  the  chiefs  as  mourners,  succeeded  by  all  the 
warriors  ;  the  reverend  clergy  of  all  denominations ;  Secretary  of  War,  and  the 
gentlemen  of  the  war  department ;  officers  of  the  federal  army,  and  of  the 
militia  ;  and  a  number  of  citizens." 


li'iii 


,ii' 


rn 


I 


f'.'    1 


Ml 


p.    -Il 


ii-K' 


I  ! 


M  rp  ^1 


fm    I 


in 


100 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


Strong  deputation  to  their  brethren  in  the  Miami  country, 
for  the  purpose  of  bringing  them,  if  possible,  into  a  more 
pacific  disposition.  Colonel  Pickering  delivered  a  part- 
ing speech  to  them,  embracing  their  instructions  as  to 
their  contemplated  mission.  The  hostile  Indians  had 
imbibed  the  idea, — or  rather  it  had  been  insinuated  into 
their  minds  by  the  officers  of  the  British  Indian  service 
in  Upper  Canada, — that  the  United  States  were  claiming 
the  fee  of  their  whole  domain  south  of  the  great  lakes, 
and  east  of  the  INIississippi.  Of  this  idea  Red-Jacket 
and  his  associates  were  charged  to  disabuse  them,  and 
to  show  them  by  maps  with  which  they  were  provided, 
that  the  United  States  claimed  no  farther  nor  other  por- 
tions of  the  soil  than  were  comprehended  in  the  several 
purchases  actually  made  by  treaty,  including,  of  course, 
the  treaties  of  Fort  Mcintosh  and  Fort  Harmar,  or 
Muskingum.  But  it  should  here  be  remembered  that 
the  Indians  invariably  protested  against  the  fairness  and 
validity  of  the  two  last  mentioned  treaties ;  and  were 
then  in  arms  to  compel  the  United  States  to  regard  the 
Ohio  as  their  actual  western  boundary.  Nevertheless, 
the  chiefs  departed  in  good  spirits,  and  great  hopes  were 
entertained  that  their  western  mission  would  be  attended 
by  auspicious  results.* 


*  It  was  during  this  visit  to  Philadelphia  that  General  Washington  presented 
Red-Jacket  with  the  large  silver  medal,  bearing  his  likeness,  which  the  chief 
wore  until  his  death,  and  of  which  he  was  so  proud.  Soon  after  the  arrival  of 
the  chiefs,  General  Knox  directed  a  military  suit  of  clothes  to  be  delivered  to 
each  of  them,  including  a  cocked  hat,  &c.,  as  worn  by  the  officers  of  the  army. 
When  Red-Jacket's  suit  was  tendered  to  him,  he  requested  the  bearer  to  inform 
General  Knox  that  he  could  not  consistently  wear  the  dress,  because  be  wag  a 


# 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


101 


The  members  of  this  deputation  arrived  at  Buffalo 
Creek  early  in  June  ;  bui  although  returning  with  the 
most  amicable  feelings  themselves,  their  people  were 
found  in  a  very  different  contlition  of  temper.  Many  of 
the  young  Seneca  warrioi^  were  among  the  hostile  In- 
dians ;  but  it  appeared  that  the  commander  of  Fort  Jef- 
ferson had  succeeded  in  winning  some  of  them  to  the 
cause  of  the  United  States,  and  a  scout  of  the  hostile 
Indians  had  been  cut  off  by  their  assistance.  This 
affair  had  caused  great  uneasiness  among  the  Six  Na- 
tions, and  their  resentment  against  the  commander  of 
Fort  Jefferson  was  kindled  to  exasperation,  because,  as 
they  alleged,  "  he  had  excited  some  of  their  thoughdess 
young  men  to  strike  the  tomahawk  into  the  heads  of 
their  brothers."  Old  Fish-Carrier,  the  principal  chief 
of  the  Cayugas,  and  a  man  of  great  consideration  among 
his  nation,  was  for  a  time  after  this  occurrence  exceed- 
ingly disaffected  ;  as  indeed  were  the  whole  Cayuga  and 
Seneca  nations.  Being  advised  of  this  critical  state  of 
things,  General  Chapin,  the  efficient  and  influential  agent 
for  the  Six  Nations,  whose  residence  was  at  Canan- 


sachem, — a  civil  officer, — and  not  a  wai^chief.  Ho  therefore  requested  that  a 
different  suit  might  be  given  to  him,  more  suitable  to  his  station.  Slill  he  insisted 
on  keeping  the  military  clothes  until  the  other  dress  was  provided  for  him.  But 
when  the  plain  dress  was  brought,  and  the  regimentals  asked  for  in  exchan  ^g,  he 
declined  delivering  them  up, — coolly  remarking  that  although  as  a  sachem  he 
could  not  wear  a  military  uniform  in  time  of  peace,  yet  in  the  time  of  war  the 
sachems  joined  the  warriors,  and  he  would  therefore  keep  it  until  a  war  should 
break  out,  when  he  could  assume  it  with  entire  propriety.  MSS.  of  Thomat 
Morris,  Red-Jacket  had  two  brothers  upon  this  deputation,  viz :  Sa-o-nish-shon- 
wa,  (A  Great  Breath,)  and  Sos-son-do-e-wa,  (A  Great  Darkness.) — Old  MS.  of 
Colonel  Pickering. 


i.  II 


r'- 


i 


Mi:': 
?  tiUi 

'rill 


i 


!'■ 

■ 

|:i 

1 

h 

i 

! 

El 

if 

1 

i 

1 

102 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


'liiifl 


daigua,  hastened  to  Buffalo  Creek,  and  by  much  exer- 
tion succeeded  in  allaying  the  anger  of  the  Cayuga  chief, 
and  tranquillizing  the  minds  of  the  Indians.  Such  in- 
deed was  the  change  wrought  in  the  mind  of  the  Fish- 
Carrier,  that  he  promised  to  recall  those  of  his  warriors 
who  had  joined  the  hostiles.*  He  also  acceded  to  the 
measure  of  sending  the  proposed  fleputadon  of  chiefs 
to  the  Miami  country ;  but  owing  to  the  extreme  delibe- 
ration of  their  movements,  their  frequent  counselling, 
and  their  dilatory  manner  of  conducting  business,  the 
messengers  did  not  depart  westward  until  the  middle  of 
September.  Yet  these  delays  arose  from  no  farther  re- 
luctance on  the  part  of  the  Indians  to  enter  upon  the 
mission.  The  deportment  of  the  federal  government 
toward  them,  and  the  agreeable  manner  in  which  they 
had  passed  their  time  in  Philadelphia,  had  completely 
won  their  friendship, — even  that  of  the  dissembling 
Red-Jacket,  who  never  afterward  gave  any  good  reason 
for  doubting  his  constancy  upon  that  point.  He  was 
himself  one  of  the  deputation  which  proceeded  to  the 
west,  as  also  was  the  Cornplanter. 

Meantime,  justly  appreciating  his  great  talents,  and 
reckoning  much  upon  liis  influence  among  the  north- 
western tribes,  the  government  of  the  United  States,  by 
much  exertion,  had  succeeded,  after  the  departure  of  the 
Seneca  delegation,  in  persuading  Joseph  Brant,  the  Mo- 
hawk chief,  and  the  war-captain  of  the  whole  Iroquois 
confederacy,  to  visit  Philadelphia,  for  the  purpose,  if 


*  Li'ttcr  from  C4oneral  Israel  Chapin  to  tho  Secretary  at  War.     Indian  State 
Papers,  p.  241. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


103 


possible,  of  despatching  him  also  to  the  Miami  country 
as  a  messenger  of  peace.  Brant  did  not  leave  Upper 
Canada,  to  visit  the  seat  of  the  American  government, 
without  encountering  much  opposition  from  Sir  John 
Johnson  and  other  officers  in  the  British  service.  But 
he  nevertheless  performed  the  journey,  was  respectfully 
received  by  the  federal  authorities  at  Philadelphia,  and 
was  ultimately  induced  to  undertake  the  western  mis- 
sion. Taking  Grand  River  in  the  wa}'^  on  his  return,  he 
was  prostrated  by  a  fit  of  sickness,  and  rendered  unable, 
during  that  season,  to  fulfil  his  engagement. 

Nor  at  that  time,  probably,  would  a  visit,  even  from 
him,  have  been  attended  by  any  particular  benefit.  The 
hostile  Indians  were  met  in  council  by  Red-Jacket  and 
his  associates  at  the  Au  Glaize,  on  the  Miami  river  of 
Lake  Erie,  but  were  found  in  a  most  implacable  humor. 
In  his  anxiety  fcjr  a  pacification,  the  President  had  sent 
other  messengers  of  peace  to  traverse  the  Wabash 
country,  among  whom  were  the  Rev.  Mr.  Heckewelder, 
General  Rufus  Putnam,  Colonel  Hardin,  Major  Trucman, 
and  another  officer  named  Freeman.  The  last  men- 
tioned three  of  these  messengers  had  been  intercepted 
and  murdered.  The  hostile  council  was  large,  and  no 
white  man  was  admitted  to  its  deliberations,  save  the 
noted  Simon  Girty,  whom,  at  the  expense  of  their  own 
character,  the  Wyandots  considered  as  one  of  them- 
/sclves.  The  Shawn ncse  were  the  only  speakers  on  the 
side  of  the  hostile  chiefs,  and  Red-Jacket  alone  was 
permitted  to  open  his  lips  in  behalf  of  tlie  pacifica- 


4f 


I 

( 

■ ) 


,L' 

1 

i 

Id 

i.  1 

'3 

l^: 

,;    ,A\ 

f 

U'    iuJI 

m 

i.m 


1 " 


'ft'fl 


104  LIFE  AND  TIMES 

tors.*  The  following  passage  from  the  address  of  the 
Shawanese  to  the  Six  Nations  sufficiently  illustrates  the 
temper  by  which  they  were  then  governed  : — 

"Eldest  Brothers  !  You  come  to  us  with  your  opinion, 
and  the  voice  of  the  United  States.  It  is  your  mind  to  put  an 
end  to  all  hostilities.  Brothers !  now  we  will  relate  what  took 
place  last  fall  in  our  country.  General  Washington  sent  an 
army  into  our  country,  which  fell  into  our  hands.  Their 
orders  were  thus  :  to  proceed  into  our  country  as  far  as  the 
Miami  towns,  to  the  Glaize ;  thence  to  Detroit,  but  not  to 
molest  the  King's  people ;  and  if  the  army  should  meet  any 
peojile  that  appeared  friendly,  to  leave  them  behind  their 
backs  without  harm. 

"  The  President  of  the  United  States  must  well  know  why 
the  blood  is  so  deep  in  our  paths.  We  have  been  informed 
that  he  has  sent  messengers  of  peace  on  these  bloody  roads, 
who  fell  on  the  way.t  And  now,  as  he  knows  that  road  to  be 
bloody,  no  communication  can  take  place  through  that  bloody 
way,  as  there  is  a  path  through  the  Six  Nations'  country, 
which  is  smooth  and  easy.  If  he  wants  to  send  the  voice  of 
peace,  it  must  come  through  that  road. 

"  Elder  Brothers  !  We  have  been  informed  the  President 
of  the  United  States  thinks  himself  the  greatest  man  on  this 
island.  We  had  this  country  long  in  peace  before  we  saw 
any  person  of  a  white  skin.  We  consider  the  people  of  the 
white  skin  the  younger." 

There  were  no  stenographers  present  at  that  council, 
and  it  is  therefore  impossible  to  report  as  to  the  manner 
in  which  Red-Jacket  acquitted  hiuisclf.     But  as  he  was 

*  LctUT  from  the  Socrotary  at  War  to  the  l'ri;9i<l("it,  Vvc.  6,  1792.  Sou  In- 
dian Slate  IVipors,  p.  322. 

t  Alluding  to  t)iu  murderB  of  Ilardin,  Truoman,  and  Frcuman,  as  Just  inun- 
tioncd  in  tho  text. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


105 


the  only  speaker  in  the  cause  of  peace,  he  doubtless 
participated  in  the  debates  often.      The  result  was  a 
stipulation  for  an  armistice  during  the  winter,  and  for 
the  holding  of  a  treaty  with  the  United  States  at  the 
Miami  rapids  in  the  ensuing  spring,  "at  any  time  after 
tl:  ;  leaves  were  out."     But  as  a  basis  of  the  negotiation 
they  insisted  sturdily  upon  the  status  quo  ante  bellum, — 
contending  that  they  had  still  a  claim  upon  a  portion  of 
the  territory  east  of  the  Ohio,  and  that  under  no  circum- 
stances would  they  consent  to  any  farther  western  bound- 
ary than  the  line  of  that  river.     Such  was  the  determi- 
nation of  which  Red-Jacket  and  his  associates  were  the 
bearers  on  their  return.     A  report  of  the  whole  pro- 
cedure, drawn  up  in  the  Indian  style,  was  forwarded  to 
the  President,  accompanied  by  an  address  from  the  Six 
Nations,  praying  the  government  of  the  United  States 
to  commission  messengers  to  treat  upon  the  basis  pro- 
posed.    They  besought  the  President  to   send   agents 
"  who  were  men  of  honesty,  not   proud   land-jobbers, 
but  men  who  loved  and  desired  peace."      They  also 
suggested  that  the  agents  should  be  "  attended  by  some 
friend  or  Quaker," — a  proposition  which,  as  will  pre- 
sently nppeiir,  was  adopted.* 

The  deputation  returned  to  Buffalo  Creek  about  the 
middle  of  November,  and  the  results  of  their  mission 


!      I 


1 
¥ '  1 


■i  % 


11    : 


•  I 


*  The  report  of  fliis  deputation,  as  returned  in  form,  and  rendered  into  Eng- 
lish by  Mr.  riirisli,  the  interpreter,  is  ii  rurioiis  document.  See  Appendix.  [A]. 
Tlie  coiMieil  lit  tlie  (iliiize  wa.s  very  iorjje,  iiieludini,'  represoiitntioiis  linni  lliirty- 
geven  nations  beyond  tlie  C'iiiiiidian  territory, — as  qUo,  chiefs  from  "  liiu  Goia 
country,"  who  were  occupied  the  whole  seaaon  in  travelling  thither. 

14 


106 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


were  forwarded  to  Philadelphia,  by  Mr.  Jasper  Parish, 
the  interpreter.  Red-Jacket  was  desirous  of  visiting 
Philadelphia  as  the  bearer  of  despatches  himself,  but 
considerations  of  economy  induced  General  Chapin,  the 
Indian  Agent,  to  dissuade  him  from  that  purpose, — a 
circumstance  which  was  regretted  by  the  Secretary  at 
War.* 

The  armistice  for  which  the  Miamis  and  Shawanese 
had  stipulated  was  not  very  rigidly  observed.  The 
paths  were  not  only  made  bloody  by  frequent  murders, 
but  at  least  one  sharp  and  considerable  action  was  fought, 
late  in  the  fall,  between  an  army  of  Indians  and  a  de- 
tachment of  Kentucky  volunteers,  commanded  by  Ma- 
jor Adair,  in  wliich  the  former  were  rather  checked  than 
defeated. 

The  reply  of  the  President  to  this  proposition  of  the  hos- 
tile Indians  was  by  them  considered  evasive,  and  cre- 
ated great  dissatisfaction.  They  even  charged  the  dele- 
gates from  the  Six  Nations  with  not  having  advised  the 
American  government,  in  good  faith,  of  their  exact  de- 
termination. The  consequence  was  the  convocation  of 
another  council  of  the  belligerent  confederates,  in  which 
they  reiterated  the  conditions  upon  which  only  they 
would  agree  to  treat,  in  more  positive  Innguagc  than  be- 
fore ;  and  they  admonished  the  President  to  send  for- 
ward no  commissioners,  unless  prepared  to  negotiate 
upon  the  prescribed  basis.  Commissioners  were,  never- 
theless, ap2)ointed,  who  proceeded  by  the  way  of  Alba- 

*  Letter  of  General  Knox  to  the  President. 


■ 


*''bAi  S» 


•;/i;' 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


107 


ny  to  Niagara,  and  thence  to  Sandusky,  to  meet  the  In- 
dians at  Au  Glaize.     INIoved  by  the  benevolence  of  their 
principles,   the    Quakers,    likewise,   of    Pennsylvania, 
spontaneously,  and  before  the  desire  to  that  effect,  of 
the  Six  Nations,  was  known  to  them,  appointed  a  depu- 
tation from  their  pacific  order,  to  proceed  to   Detroit 
and  exert  their  influence  in  the  cause  of  peace.*     Both 
commissions  were  alike  ineffective.     The  Indians  gath- 
ered at  the  Au  Glaize  in  great  numbers,  and  in  the 
worst  possible  humor.     And  although  the  greatest  chief- 
tain of  their  race,  in  modern  times,  Joseph  Brant,  was 
there,  and  exerted  himself  to  the  utmost  to  accomplish  a 
general   pacification,  the   effort  was   unavailing.     The 
Indians  would  not  relax  one   iota   from   their   original 
determination  to  make    the   Ohio   the   vlthna    thulc   of 
white  possession  and  civilization.     The  commissioners 
could  of  course  entertain  no  such  proposition,  and  after 
nearly  the  entire  year  (1793)  had  been  consumed,  they 
returned  from  their  bootless  errand.     Meantime,  after 
the  defeat  of  St.  Clair,  the  command  of  the  army  had 
been  confided  to  General  Wayne,  who  evinced  the  ut- 
most energy  in  its  re-organization.   He  was  already  in  the 
Indian  country,  at  the  time  when  the  negotiation  failed, 
and   immediately   thereafter    preparations  wore   made 
for  opening  another  campaign,  on  the  return  of  spring. 


iiif^i 


>:\m 


I 


m 


*  Tho  commissioners  appointed  by  the  government  were  General  Benjamin 
Lincoln,  Beverly  RiinJolpli,  and  Colonel  Timothy  Pickering.  Tlie  Quaker  gen- 
tlemen deputed  upon  the  mission  were  John  I'lirish,  William  Savary,  and  John 
Elliott,  of  I'hiladelphia;  Jacob  Lindloy,  of  WcBtchester  county;  und  Joseph 
Mooro  and  William  Hartshorne,  of  New-Jersey. 


i, 


:  m 


'  «i 


\Lt 


■ 


108 


LIFE  AND  TIMES.  &c. 


(1794,)  with  all  the  vigor  the  government  could  put 
forth.  That  campaign  was  short  and  brilliant.  After 
several  rather  severe  affairs  in  the  early  part  of  the 
summer,  the  fierce  battle  fought  by  Wayne,  at  the 
rapids  of  the  Miami?,  on  the  20th  of  August,  crowned 
by  a  signal  victory,  put  an  end  to  hostilities.  This  bat- 
tle was  not  fought  against  the  Indians  alone.  They 
were  assisted  by  "a  mixed  multitude"  of  tories  and 
refugees  from  the  United  States ;  half-breeds,  French  and 
Englisli  fur-traders,  and  others,  residing  at  Detroit  and 
in  the  wild  regions  beyond.  The  action  was,  moreover, 
fought  almost  under  the  guns  of  a  British  ibrt,  which  the 
assurance  of  Governor  Sinclair  had  caused  to  be  erected 
thus  far  within  the  territory  of  the  United  States,  and 
between  the  commander  of  which  and  General  Wayne 
a  sharp  correspondence  ensued.  The  American  Gene- 
ral was  so  greatly  exasperated  at  the  conduct  of  the 
British  officers  and  agent  in  that  quarter,  that  he  could 
scarcely  desist  from  laying  siege  to  the  fort  itself. 
There  were  several  skirmishes  between  scouting  par- 
ties, after  the  battle, — affording  Wayne  an  excuse  to  lay 
waste  the  country  of  the  Miamis,  which  was  well  culti- 
vated for  the  distance  of  fifty  miles.  Colonel  M'Kee, 
an  influential  officer  in  the  British  Indian  department, 
had  extensive  possessions  there,  which  were  ravaged 
and  his  buildings  laid  in  ashes.  Wayne  continued  to 
occupy  the  country  for  a  whole  5"ear  afterward,  at  the 
close  of  which  the  definitive  treaty  of  Greenville  was 
concluded  with  the  Indians,  which  was  of  a  character 
perfectly  agreeable  to  the  United  States. 


CHAPTER  V. 

FxRTHEn  difficulties  with  the  Six  Nations,  occasioned  by  Pcnnsylvanin — Cheat 
Council  at  Canandaigua — Troubles  of  the  Oneidas — Description  of  the  Gather- 
ing— Opening  of  the  Grand  Council — Ceremonies  of  condoloment— Visit  of 
Jemima  Wilkinson— Speeches  in  Council — Jemima  speaks — Speech  of  the 
women  to  Colonel  Fickering— Preso:ice  of  a  supposed  spy — His  dismissal — 
Correspondence  concerning  him — News  of  Wayne's  victory — Its  eft'ect  upon 
the  Indians — Difficulties  and  jealousies  among  the  Indians  themselves — Colo- 
nel Pickering  detemiines  to  bring  them  to  a  decision — Indians  appeal  to  tho 
Quakers — Speech  of  Red-Jacket  to  them,  and  also  to  Colonel  Picketing  in 
Council — Farther  proceedings — Difficulties  with  Cornplanter — Conclusion  of 
the  Treaty— Dissolution  of  the  Council — Excellent  conduct  of  the  Quakers. 

The  termination  of  the  war  between  the  United  States 
and  the  north-westeni  Indians  was  mentioned  at  the 
clos  ^  of  the  pi-eceding  chapter,  in  anticipation  of  the 
regular  historical  progress  of  these  memoirs.  But  the 
name  of  the  Seneca  orator,  Sa-go-ye-wat-ha,  does  not 
occur  in  connection  with  that  war,  or  with  any  other 
pubHc  event  during  the  year  1793.  In  February  of  the 
next  year,  (1794,)  he  was  present  at  a  council  convened 
at  Buffalo  Creek,  at  the  instance  of  the  federal  govern- 
ment, for  the  purpose  of  yet  farth'  ■  conciliating  the  good 
feelings  of  the  Senecas  and  Cayugas.  The  wayward- 
ness of  the  Indian  character  is  such,  and  the  desire  of 
their  young  men  is  always  so  strong  to  be  upon  the  war- 
path at  every  opportunity,  that  the  most  assiduous  and 
watchful  exertions  were  constandy  necessary  to  keep 


'^f'f'l 


PI 


l\ 


f4 


i 


M 


i  ti 


i 


I'l 


I 


110 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


the  Senecas  and  Cayugas  from  joining  the  belligerents 
en,  masse; — and  these  efforts  were  only  crowned  with 
partial  success  at  the  best.  The  appliances  of  the  gov- 
ernment, on  this  occasion,  consisted  of  a  hberal  distri- 
bution of  presents, — particularly  of  clothing.  But  the 
eagle  eyes  of  the  British  officers  in  Canada  were  upon 
every  movement  of  the  Six  Nations,  and  such  was  the 
lingering,  attachment  of  the  Senecas  for  their  ancient 
allies,  or  such  their  actual  and  continued  attachment  to 
them,  that  no  council  could  be  held  upon  that  frontier 
without  the  presence  of  one  or  more  representatives  of 
the  crown.  Indeed,  his  Britannic  Majesty's  officers  were 
determined  that  no  peace  should  be  concluded,  unless 
they  might  be  the  principal  agents  in  effecting  it.  At 
about  the  time  now  under  consideration,  the  celebrated 
Colonel  John  Butler,  of  Wyoming  memory,  declared 
that  the  only  way  to  make  peace  with  the  Indians  was 
to  apply  to  Lord  Dorchester,*  Governor  General  of  the 
Canadas,  and  Commander-in-chief  at  Quebec,  for  the 
appointment  of  a  commission  of  British  officers  to  desig- 
nate the  boundary  between  the  United  States  and  the 
Indians,  and  assist  in  the  negotiation  of  a  treaty,  to  be 
guaranteed  to  the  Indians  by  Great  Britain.t  Propo- 
sitions so  arrogant  on  the  one  side,  and  an  acquiescence 
in  which  would  have  been  so  degrading  on  the  other, 
were  of  course  spurned  with  indignation.  Still,  the  af- 
fairs of  the  war  were  discussed  at  the  council ;  but  Joseph 


*  The  Sir  Guy  Carleton  of  the  revolutionary  war. 
t  Massachusetts  Historical  Collections,  vol.  i.  p.  287. 


OF  REDJACKET. 


Ill 


Brant  was  the  principal  Indian  speaker,  while  Red- 
Jacket  enacted  only  a  subordinate  and  unimportant  part. 
He  came  more  prominently  before  the  public  in  the 
following  autumn,  at  the  great  and  memorable  coun- 
cil held  with  the  Six  Nations  at  Canandaigua.  General 
Wayne  had  not  closed  the  war  in  the  north-west 
when  the  preparations  for  this  council  were  com- 
menced ;  but  aside  from  the  sympathies  of  the  Six 
Nations  in  behalf  of  their  belligerent  brethren,  another 
difficulty  had  arisen,  nearer  home,  causing  for  a  season 
great  anxiety.  A  movement  by  Pennsylvania,  having 
in  view  an  immediate  extension  of  her  settlements  to 
Presque  Isle,  on  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie,  was  a  measure 
that  greatly  exasperated  the  Six  Nations,  who  claimed 
that  terx'itory  as  exclusively  their  own,  and  immediate 
hostilities  had  well  nigh  been  the  consequence.  The 
governor  of  Pennsylvania  claimed  the  disputed  territory 
by  virtue  of  an  alleged  purchase  from  the  Cornplanter ; 
but  the  Six  Nations  disavowed  the  transaction,  and  pre- 
pared to  defend  their  soil  with  the  rifle  and  tomahawk. 
The  military  arrangements  were  matured  under  the 
direction  of  Brant,  or  Thayendanegea,  who  was  in  readi- 
ness once  more  to  lead  his  braves  to  the  onslaught.  But 
the  timely  interposition  of  President  Washington  de- 
terred Pennsylvania  from  any  farther  prosecution  of  her 
designs  in  that  quarter,  at  that  time.*     Still,  it  was 

*  Life  of  Brant,  vol.  ii.  pp.  377-38 1 .  A  council  of  tho  Six  Nations  was  holden 
at  BuflTalo  Creek,  in  June  of  1794,  upon  this  subject,  on  which  occasion  Corn- 
planter  delivered  a  speech,  to  be  forwarded  to  General  Washington,  for  which, 
■ee  Appendix  B. 


.'  ii 


r.\\ 


.'ii.. 


A 


? 


A%i 


l!-f 


I  jt)  i  - 


rV 


i 

it 
i 

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it 

i 

!iM;,M 


I    ii 


m 


112 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


deemed  proper,  on  the  part  of  the  President,  to  endeavor 
to  tranquilUze  the  Indians  who  had  been  thus  disturbed, 
by  pacific  measures,  and  a  council  was  appointed,  which, 
as  ah'eady  mentioned,  sat  at  Canandmgua,  in  October 
and  November,  1794.  Colonel  Pickering  was  again  de- 
tailed as  the  commissioner  on  the  part  of  the  United 
States,  with  instructions  to  hold  a  free  conference  with 
the  Indians  of  the  Six  Nations,  upon  all  the  causes  of 
discontent  then  existing  between  the  two  peoples.  The 
good  "  Friends"  of  Pennsylvania  and  New- Jersey,  under 
the  conviction  that  the  interposition  of  their  pacific 
offices  was  a  religious  duty,  appointed  a  deputation  of 
great  respectability  to  attend  the  council,  and  if  possible, 
by  indirection  at  least,  exercise  some  beneficial  influence 
in  its  proceedings.* 

This  was  the  last  general  council  held  by  the  United 
States  with  the  Iroquois  confederacy, — and  a  vast  amount 
of  important  business  was  transacted  thereat.  Several 
perplexing  questions  of  contested  boundaries  were  settled, 
and  the  relations  between  the  United  Elites  and  the 
confederacy  were  adjusted  upon  a  basis  that  has  not 
since  been  disturbed.  The  results  were  of  great  im- 
portance, not  only  to  the  federal  government,  but  also 
in  respect  to  the  influence  which  the  adjustment  of  those 
questions  had  upon  the  settlement  of  western  New- York 
by  the  white  people.  But  a  proper  history  of  that  coun- 
cil is  yet  a  desideratum,  which  there  are  no  documents 

*  The  delegates  were  David  Bacon,  John  Parish,  William  Savary,  and  James 
Emlen. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 

even  in  the  archives  of  the  government  adequate  to 
supply, — the  naked  treaty  itself,  which  is  not  of  great 
length,  being  all  that  seems  to  have  been  preserved. 

The  council  was  opened  on  the  11th  of  October,  in  the 
camp  of  the  Oneidas,  they  only  having  yet  arrived.  But 
as  there  were  many  minor  difficulties  presented  for  ar- 
rangement by  the  arbitrament  of  the  commission, — diffi- 
culties arising  among  several  of  the  tribes  themselves, 
and  between  the  Indians  and  grasping  white  men,  which 
were  not  of  national  concernment, — it  was  not  important 
that  all  the  nations  should  be  present  at  the  first  moment 
of  business.  Colonel  Pickering  opened  the  council  by 
a  conciliatory  speech,  in  which  he  stated  that  he  had 
heard  of  difficulties  among  them  which  he  would  gladly 
assist  in  healing.  He  was  addressed  in  reply  by  Cap- 
tain John,  and  Good  Peler,  at  great  length.  The  first 
grievance  presented  related  to  a  lease  of  about  one  third 
of  the  Oneida  reservation  to  Peter  Smith,  embracing  a 
territory  four  miles  in  breadth,  by  twenty-four  in  length, 
and  containing  sixty-one  thousand  four  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  land.  This  tract,  it  was  alleged,  had 
been  leased  to  Mr.  Smith  for  twenty-one  years,  by  the 
sachems,  or  civil  magistrates,  in  opposition  to  the  voice 
of  the  warriors ;  and  the  attempts  to  survey  the  land 
had  brought  the  two  parties  in  array  against  each  other, 
and  almost  into  actual  conflict.  Great  complaints  were 
made  against  the  whites  in  general,  for  the  artifices 
practised  to  deceive  them  and  obtain  their  lands.  Cap- 
tain John  spoke  in  behalf  of  the  sachems,  and  Good 
Peter,  the  head  warrior,  for  the  braves.     Colonel  Pick- 

16 


'i 


i- 


ir  III 


I 


!'    1 


f ;' 


m 


114 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


ering  replied  to  them  on  the  following  clay,  and  proposed 
a  course  of  conciliation  and  compromise, — promising  to 
visit  the  Oneida  castle  on  his  return,  and  assist  in  the 
final  adjustment  of  the  difficulty. 

The  Indians,  as  usual,  gathered  around  the  council 
fire  slowly.  By  the  14lh  the  Onondagas  and  Cayugas 
had  arrived ;  and  on  the  same  day  the  approach  of 
Farmcr's-Brother  was  announced,  at  the  head  of  a  large 
party  of  Senecas.  He  had  halted  at  the  distance  of  four 
miles  from  the  village,  to  paint  and  dress,  preparatory 
to  a  public  entrance  into  the  grand  camp.  At  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  he  arrived  with  his  train,  the 
Oneidas,  Onondagas  and  Cayugas  being  drawn  up  in 
order,  armed,  painted  and  plumed,  to  receive  them. 
Marching  up  in  front  of  the  Oneidas  and  their  neigh- 
bors, the  Senecas  fired  a  salute  of  three  rounds  of  mus- 
ketry, which  was  returned  by  the  others,  making  the 
woods  ring  long  and  loud  by  the  reverberations.  The 
Indian  leaders  then  directed  their  dusky  legions  to  form 
a  circle  around  Colonel  Pickering  and  General  Chapin, 
the  government  agents,  with  their  assistants  and  atten- 
dants,— ^whereupon  the  commissioner  was  addressed  by 
Farmer's-Brother,  who  on  closing  returned  the  belt  by 
which  he  had  been  summoned  to  the  council.  Two 
days  afterward  the  Cornplanter  arrived  at  the  head  of 
four  hundred,  being  the  Alleghany  clan  of  the  Senecas. 
The  same  ceremonies  of  reception  and  presentation  were 
observed  as  on  the  former  day, — the  Indians  being 
dressed  and  painted  with  all  the  brilliancy  and  beauty 


OF  RED-JACKET.  115 

of  their  wild  and  fantastic  tastes.     The  number  of  In- 
dians then  present  was  sixteen  hundred. 

On  the  morning  of  the  18th    Red-Jacket  made  his 
appearance,  and  first  visited  the  deputation  from  the 
Friends,  in  company  with  Cornplanter,  Farmer's-Bro- 
ther,  Little  Beard,  and  several  other  Seneca  chiefs,  upon 
private  business.*     In  the  afternoon  the  commissioner 
and  the  Friends  were  summoned  by  a  son  of  Corn- 
planter  to  attend  the  formal  opening  of  the  grand  coun- 
cil.    The  officers  and  their  interpreters  were  surrounded 
by  a  dark  assemblage,  the  chiefs  appearing  subdued  and 
thoughtful,  and  the  entire  cou])  d'ccil  presenting  a  striking 
aspect.    The  first  business  was  an  address  of  condolence 
to  the  Senecas,  Cayugas,  Tuscaroras,  and  Delawares,  (a 
deputation  of  the  latter  being  present,)  by  Captain  John, 
of  the  Oneidas,  on  account  of  the  loss  of  many  chiefs  of 
the  Six  Nations  since  they  had  last  met  in  general  coun- 
cil.     The  Oneidas,  in  behalf  of  themselves  and  the 
Onondagas,  wished,  in  their  figurative  language,  to  wipe 
the  tears  from  their  brethren's  eyes,  brighten  their  coun- 
tenances and  clear  their  throats,  that  they  might  speak 
freely  at  the  council  fire.     Red-Jacket  returned  a  bro- 
therly salutation,  handing  the  eastern  nations  of  the  con- 

*  It  appears  that  the  Senecas  had  invited  a  private  conference  with  the  Fiicnds, 
respecting  the  descendants  of  some  Indians  who  had  formerly  resided  at  or  near 
Hopewell,  in  Virginia.  The  Indians  claimed  t'"'at  the  people  of  whom  the 
Friends  had  purchased  the  lands  at  Hopewell  had  not  paid  for  them,  and  there- 
fore had  sold  what  was  not  their  own.  The  Friends  desired  that  the  heirs  of  the 
Indians  who  had  been  dispossessed  at  Hopewell  should  be  sought  out,  that  a 
just  compensation  might  be  made  to  them.  Cornplanter  now  informed  them  that 
two  of  those  heirs  had  been  found,  residing  at  Conestoga. 


.1  \V\ 


■  v 


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116 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


I  ,U 


!';;!f 


federacy  belts  and  strings  of  wampum,  to  unite  each  to 
the  other,  and  thus  to  open  the  council  as  with  the  heart 
of  one  man.  They  then  informed  Colonel  Pickering  that 
the  Six  Nations  were  duly  opened  as  a  council  for  the 
transaction  of  business.  The  Colonel  made  a  congratu- 
latory address  in  reply,  and  informed  them  that,  as  it 
was  then  Saturday,  on  Monday  afternoon  he  would  hold 
a  council  of  condolence,  to  wipe  away  the  tears  from 
the  eyes  of  the  Delawares,  who  had  lost  a  young 
brother,  murdered  by  a  white  man  at  Venango,  a  few 
months  before.  He  would  then  take  the  hatchet  out  of 
the  head  of  the  deceased,  and  bury  it  in  the  earth,  pre- 
paratory to  the  treaty. 

Accordingly  on  the  20th,  a  very  large  council  was 
held,  at  which  the  Colonel  performed  the  promised 
ceremony  of  condolcment  with  the  Delawares.  By 
speech  and  gesture  he  went  through  the  process  of  bury- 
ing the  dead,  and  covered  the  grave  with  leaves,  so 
that  they  could  see  it  no  more  in  passing.  The  hatchet 
which  he  had  taken  out  of  the  liead  of  the  victim  was 
buried  beneath  n,  pine  tree,  whic:li,  in  ivords,  was  torn  up 
for  that  purpose.  Having  placed  the  hatcliet  in  a  deep 
hole,  and  covered  it  witli  stones,  the  tree  was  replanted 
upon  the  top,  so  that  the  instrument  of  death  should 
never  more  be  discovered.  The  Colonel  then  wiped 
the  blood  from  their  heads,  and  the  tears  from  their  eyes, 
and  opened  the  path  of  peace,  which  tlie  Indians  were 
invited  to  keep  clear  at  one  end,  and  the  United  States 
at  the  other,  as  long  as  the  sun  shone.      These  and 


ii^ 


!:.     U 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


117 


Other  ceremonies   having  been  performed,  tlie  council 
was  adjourned,  and  the  fire  covered  up  for  the  night. 

On  the  next  day,  the  celebrated  Jemima  Wilkinson, 
who,  with  her  followers,  resided  upon  the  western  mar- 
gin of  the  Seneca  lake,  being  at  Canandaigua,  with  seve- 
ral of  her  disciples,  was  invited  by  Colonel  Pickering  to 
dine  with  him,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Thomas  INIorris. 
The  invitation  was  accepted  by  Jemima,  and  she  was 
treated  with  great  attention  by  the  Colonel,  glad  of  the 
opportunity  to  gratify  his  curiosity  respecting  this  re- 
markable woman,  whom  he  had  never  seen  before. 
The  seat  of  honor  was  appropriated  to  her,  and  she 
participated  freely  in  the  conversation. 

At  an  early  hour  of  the  afternoon  the  commissioner 
was  summoned  to  the  council,  to  which  place  he  re- 
paired with  his  friends, — Jemima  and  her  retinue  follow- 
ing in  the  train,  and  taking  seats  with  the  commissioner 
and  interpreters  in  the  centre  of  the  circle.  I'he  ad- 
dress of  Colonel  Pickering,  of  the  preceding  day,  was 
answered  by  the  Fish-Carrier, — who  took  occasion  to 
glance  retrospectively  at  the  relations  that  had  existed 
between  the  Six  Nations  and  the  white  men,  since  the 
landing  of  the  latter  "on  this  island."  Wiien  the  white 
people  first  came,  the  Indians  saw  that  they  were  men, 
and  must  iuive  something  to  subsist  upon.  They,  there- 
fore, pitied  them,  and  gave  them  some  land  ;  and  when 
they  complained  tliat  the  land  had  become  too  small  for 
them,  the  Indians  still  pitied  them,  and  from  time  to 
time  gave  them  more.  At  length  a  great  council-fire 
was  kindled  at  Albany,  where  a  silver  chain  was  made, 


M 

ll 

r 

If    3 

1 

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t  1        : 

i 

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1^ 

:     ''jit' 

y 

1 

118 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


II  -h  i 


11) 


which  was  kept  bright  for  many  years,  until  the  United 
States  and  the  great  King  over  the  water  differed.  Then 
their  brothers  in  Canada  talked  to  the  Indians,  and  they 
let  the  chain  fall  out  of  their  hands.  Yet  it  was  not 
their  fault,  but  the  white  people's.  The  Fish-Carrier 
then  recapitulated  the  history  of  the  negotiations  with  the 
white  people  after  the  close  of  the  revolutionary  war, 
referring  to  the  treaties  of  Fort  Stanwix,  and  com- 
plained of  many  grievances  which  they  had  suffered, — 
particularly  in  the  curtailment  of  their  territory.  The 
Indians  felt  that  at  the  first  treaty  at  Fort  vStanwix,  in 
1784,  the  commissioners  had  been  too  grasping, — a 
position  which  Colonel  Pickering,  in  his  rcphs  labored 
rather  to  extenuate  than  to  deny.  Having  just  come 
out  victoriously  from  a  liloody  war  with  them,  the  Colo- 
nel told  them  that  great  allowances  were  to  be  made, 
even  if  the  commissioners  had  shown  themselves  proud, 
and  treated  them  somewhat  harshly.  But  notwith- 
standing their  many  causes  of  complaint,  Fish-Carrier, 
now  that  they  had  taken  hold  of  the  cliaiu  with  the 
fifteen  fires,  pledged  the  Six  Nations  to  hold  on. 

In  the  course  of  the  sitting  Colonel  Pickering  formal- 
ly  introduced  the  Quaker  deputation,  who  had  been  ap- 
pointed at  their  request,  and  with  the  approbation  of  the 
President.  The  deputies  thereupon  presented  the  ad- 
dress from  the  Friends  to  the  Indians,  wliich  was  read, 
and  interpreted  by  Jasper  Parish,  tind  received  with 
lively  approbation  by  the  Indians.  Tiie  rending  of  the 
address  having  been  completed,  Jemima  and  her  dis- 
ciples dropped  upon  tlieir  kncesi  and  tlio  mistress  of 


m 


:|^ 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


119 


the  order  uttered  something  in  the  form  of  a  praj-cr. 
The  lady  superior  afterward  desired  hberty  to  address 
the  assembly,  which  being  granted,  she  proceeded  to 
utter  a  rhapsody,  consisting  of  disjointed  texts  of  kScrip- 
ture,  mingled  with  confused  and  unmeaning  sentences 
of  her  own,  forming  together  a  medley  without  co- 
herence, relevancy,  or  point.  The  proceedings  of  the 
day  were  closed  on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  by  tlie  in- 
terchange of  belts,  the  design  of  which  was  to  perpetu- 
ate the  memories  and  virtues  of  their  departed  chiefs,  for 
whose  loss  they  had  been  pfrforming  the  ceremonies  of 
condolence. 

The  council  was  re-opcncd  on  the  23d.  When  about 
to  proceed  to  business,  a  request  was  made  by  three 
Indian  women  to  be  admitted  to  deliver  their  senti- 
ments. The  request  was  granted,  and  the  women  were 
introduced  by  Red-.Jackct,  who  appears  ever  to  have 
been  a  favorite  with  the  Indian  ladies.  Addressing 
himself  to  the  sachems  and  warriors,  he  asked  their 
favor  in  behalf  of  the  v.  omen,  and  also  that  of  the  com- 
missioner, craving  tliat  dioy  might  be  heard,  especially 
as  on  the  preceding  day  a  lady  of  the  pale  faces  had 
been  allowed  the  same  indulgence.  The  assent  of  the 
council  having  been  given,  Red-Jacket  was  designated 
as  the  orator  through  whom  they  desired  to  speak.  The 
substance  of  his  communication  in  their  behalf  was, 
that  they  felt  a  deep  interest  in  the  affairs  of  tlieir  peo- 
ple ;  and  having  heard  the  opinions  of  their  sachems, 
they  fully  concurred  in  them,  that  the  white  people  had 
been  the  cause   of  all  the  Indians'  distresses :     The 


'J 


1 A 

:: 

\  i 

'>i 

';  I  • 

-    i 

»  1 

k 

•1 

120 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


white  people,  they  said,  had  pressed  and  squee7.ed 
them  together,  until  it  gave  them  great  pain  at  their 
hearts,  and  they  thought  the  white  people  ought  to  give 
back  all  the  lands  they  had  taken  from  them.  One  of 
the  white  women,  (Jemima,  meaning,)  had  yesterday 
told  the  Indians  to  repent ;  and  they  in  turn  now  called 
on  the  white  people  to  repent, — they  having  as  much 
need  of  repentance  as  the  Indians.  They  therefore 
hoped  the  pale  faces  would  repent  and  wrong  the  In- 
dians no  more. 

The  commissioner  thanked  them  for  their  speech,  ob- 
serving that  it  was  far  from  his  nature  to  think  meanly 
of  women,  and  he  shoukl  always  be  happy  to  hear  from 
them  when  they  had  any  thing  to  say.  But  in  regard 
to  the  conduct  of  the  white  woman,  on  the  preceding 
day,  which  they  had  cited  as  a  precedent,  he  remarked 
that  she  had  forced  herself  into  the  council,  and  had 
spoken  without  his  approbation.* 


y.u' 


M 


*  .leminia  Wilkinson  was  extensively  known,  by  reputation,  as  n  religious  im- 
postor, in  the  western  part  of  New-York,  thirty  or  forty  years  ago.  She  was 
born  in  Rhode  Island,  in  1753,  and  wns  educated  a  Quaker.  She  was  artful,  bold, 
and  zealous.  About  1773,  on  recovering  from  n  fit  of  sicknes.?,  during  which 
8he  had  fallen  into  a  syncope,  so  thu  she  was  apparently  dead,  she  announced 
that  she  had  been  raised  from  the  dead,  and  had  received  n  divine  commission 
as  a  religious  teacher.  Having  made  a  few  proselytes,  she  removed  with 
them  into  the  western  part  of  New-York,  and  settled  between  the  Seneca 
and  Crooked  Lakes,  at  the  distance  of  about  eighteen  miles  from  Geneva, 
calling  her  village  New  .Jerusalem.  In  consequence  of  the  weakness 
and  credulity  of  her  followers,  she  was  enabled  to  live  in  very  elegont  style, 
having  half  a  dozen  beautiful  damsels  in  attendance  upon  her  person.  She  in- 
culcated poverty,  but  was  careful  to  be  the  owner  of  lands  purchased  in  the  name 
of  her  companion,  Rachel  Miller.  When  she  prcncbed,  she  stood  in  the  door  of 
her  bed  chamber,  wearing  a  waistcoat,  a  stock,  and  a  white  silk  cravat.  She  died 
in  1819.    Joseph  Brant  once  very  adroitly  discomfited  her. — As  she  professed 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


121 


An  unpleasant  incident  occurred  on  the  morning  of 
the  2-5th,  which  came  near  breaking  up  the  council  in  a 
tempest.  It  was  the  appearance  in  the  assembly  oi"  a 
man  named  Johnson,  who  came  from  Fort  Erie  as  a 
messenger  from  Brant.  lie  had  indeed  arrived  two 
days  before,  and  on  the  day  previous  he  held  secret  con- 
ference with  several  of  the  chiefs,  and  delivered  the 
message  with  whicli  he  had  been  charged  by  the  Mo- 
hawk. Assuming  the  character  of  an  interpreter,  he 
was  now  mingling  in  the  council,  and  appeared  rather 
too  intimate  with  the  Indians  to  please  Colonel  Picker- 
ing, who  oljjectcd  to  his  presence,  and  dcnoiniced  liim 
as  a  British  spy.  The  Indians  either  were,  or  alfeeted 
to  be,  greatly  surprised  at  the  attitude  assumed  by 
Colonel  Pickering,  in  regard  to  tl  is  intrusion.  Corn- 
planter  rose  to  vindicate  Johnson  and  express  his  sur- 
prise that,  notwithstanding  the  conclusion  of  peace  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  the  Great  King  over  the 
water,  such  an  antipathy  existed  between  tliem  that 
neither  party  could  bear  to  sit  b}-  the  side  of  the  other 
in  treaties  held  with  the  Indians.  The  messenger,  John- 
son, he  said,  had  merely  coUiC  on  a  friendly  errand  from 
Captain  Branl.  The  Ji.  ^ians,  he  said,  iiad  the  j'car  be- 
fore resolved  upon  convening  a  grand  council  of  all  their 
nations  at  Sandusky,  in  the  (now)  following  spring,  and 
Brant  had  sent  them  a  message  to  remind  them  of  the 

to  1)0  Christ  111  Ilia  spcond  nppoarinjf,  Uraiit  tested  licr  liy  sppalung  in  ilitTorpiit 
Indian  Inti^iiascs,  ni)no  of  whicli  slii'  uiidprstood.  He  then  discio-ird  jjcr  ini- 
liosturi",  simply  l>y  di'diiiiiig  tliat  Josus  Christ  must  of  cuursu  uiidcrataiid  ull 
languages, — one  as  well  us  aimthur. 

ir. 


!k 


■^r 


:'   "! 


122 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


appointment.  But  unluckily  for  the  excuse  he  was  ma- 
king, Cornplanter  disclosed  too  much.  "  Captain  Brant," 
said  he,  "  sends  his  compliments  to  the  chiefs  at  Canan- 
daigua,  and  says,  *  you  remember  what  we  agreed  upon 
last  year,  and  the  line  we  marked  out :  If  this  line  is 
complied  with,  peace  will  take  place  ;'  and  he  desires  us 
to  mention  this  at  Canandaigua."  The  message  also 
contained  an  invitation  for  the  chiefs  to  meet  Brant  at 
Buffalo  Creek,  at  an  early  day. 

Colonel  Pickering  replied  with  great  indignation, — to 
account  for  which,  two  or  three  points  must  here  be 
borne  in  mind.  In  the  first  place,  such  was  tlic  tardi- 
ness of  communication  through  the  deep  wildernesses  of 
the  west,  that  neither  the  Colonel  nor  the  Indians  had 
yet  hear-^  of  the  entire  overthrow  of  the  IMiamies  and 
their  confederates  in  August,  by  General  Wayne.  In 
,"he  second  place,  the  Indians  at  the  present  council 
were  striving  to  re-open,  for  fresh  negotiation,  the  entire 
question  of  boundaries  between  the  Six  Nations  and  the 
United  States,  and  not  only  that,  Out  they  were  now 
claiming  westwardly,  between  Lake  Erie  and  the  Ohio, 
as  far  as  the  jNIuskingum — embracing,  of  course,  a  large 
tract  of  territory  for  which  the  Miamies  and  their  con- 
federates were  fighting.  Thirdly,  although  Brant  had 
been  endeavoring  to  effect  a  peace,  he  had  always  fa- 
vored the  Indian  claim  that  the  Ohio  should  1)0  recog- 
nized as  the  boundary  between  the  white  men  and  tlie 
red.  Tiic  Scnecas,  also,  had  ever  avowed  the  same 
()[)inion  ;  and  lest  they  might  be  induced  to  swerve  from 
that  position,  Brant  had  now  taken  occasion,  in  the 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


123 


midst  of  a  treaty,  to  throw  them  a  signal  of  remembrance. 
Hence  the  exasperation  of  Colonel  I'ickering  at  the  pre- 
sence ol'  Johnson.  Accordingly,  in  rc})ly  to  the  excuses 
of  Cornplanter,  he  used  language  of  great  severity.  He 
said  he  considei-ed  the  intrusion  of  Johnson  as  an  act 
betraying  great  impudence,  and  as  affording  fresh  proof 
of  British  insolence.  Then  reviewing  the  whole  system 
of  British  interference  in  the  Indian  relations  of  the  Uni- 
ted States,  and  the  ill  treatment,  in  this  respect,  which 
his  government  had  received  from  England,  for  several 
years  past,  the  Colonel  concluded  a  long  speech  by  the 
declaration  that  either  the  m.essenger  must  be  sent  back, 
or  he  would  himself  cover  up  the  council  lire  and  depart. 
His  instructions  from  General  Washington,  he  said,  were 
explicit,  that  he  should  suffer  no  British  agents  to  be  pre- 
sent at  the  treaty. 

The  Indians  were  amazed  at  the  vehemence  of  the 
Colonel's  manner,  remarking,  as  he  resumed  his  seat — 
"  the  council-ffre  grows  waim :  the  sparks  ffy  about  very 
thick."  Johnson  himself  appeared  alarmed,  and  shrunk 
stealthily  away.  The  Indians  then  requested  Colonel 
Pickering  and  his  party  to  withdraw  for  a  short  time,  as 
they  wished  to  have  a  brief  conference  among  them- 
selves. In  about  half  an  hour  the  doors  of  die  council 
house  were  re-opened,  and  Cornplanter  again  rose  in 
vindication  of  Johnson,  avowing,  distinctly,  that  he  came 
at  their  own  solicitation,  and  was  consequently  not  to 
blame.  If  there  were  fault  in  the  case,  it  belonged  to 
the  white  people,  who  had  deceived  the  Indians  when 
they  were  told  at  Fort  Stanwix  that  the  treaty  of  peace 


( ; 


')■ 


■If 


'iff', 


'.V 


'  4 


1'   ■'' . 


^ 

- ! 

■  1 

.  •  ■ 

i        ■' 

1 

y  ■■) 

V 

;-.4,'- 

1 

v_ 

<  '■  '<  I 

1 

i 

1 

\   } 

\ 

•1 

1 

1 

■ 

124 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


between  England  and  the  United  States  had  been  agreed 
upon  in  the  presence  of  the  Great  Spirit : — 

"  We  now  discover,"  said  he,  "  that  the  commissioners  there 
told  us  what  was  a  lie,  wlien  tlicy  said  they  had  made  tlie  chain 
of  friendship  briglit :  l)ut  I  now  find  there  has  been  an  anti- 
pathy to  each  other  ever  since.  Now  our  sachems  and  war- 
riors say,  what  shall  we  do  ]  We  will  shove  Johnson  off. 
Yet  this  is  not  agreeable  to  my  mind,  for  if  I  had  kindled  a 
council-fire,  I  would  suffer  a  very  bad  man  to  sit  in  it,  that  ho 
might  be  made  better.  But  if  the  peace  you  made  had  been 
a  good  peace,  all  animosities  would  have  been  done  away,  and 
you  could  have  sat  side  by  side  in  council.  I  have  one  re- 
quest to  make,  which  is,  that  you  would  furnish  Johnson  pro- 
visions to  carry  him  home." 

There  wns  altogether  too  much  of  refinement  in  the 
diplomatic  relations  between  the  two  white  and  civilized 
nations,  for  the  understandings  of  the  unsophisticated 
barbarians.  A  quasi  war  between  people  professing  the 
most  amicable  relations  with  each  other,  was  a  state  of 
things  quite  beyond  their  comprehension.  With  them, 
their  relations  must  be  either  one  thing  or  the  other, — 
peace  or  war, — and  in  cither  attitude  there  would  be 
nothing  equivocal. 

After  a  sitting  of  five  hours  the  storm  passed  away, 
and  the  council  adjourned.*     In  the  evening  fifteen  of 


*  Tho  proceedings  agninst  the  supposed  spy,  Johnson,  were  liarsh.  By  a 
MS.  loUcr  of  Gen.  Clia]iin'H,  in  the  author's  possession,  it  appears  that  thu 
General  had  invited  Joseph  Brant  to  attend  the  council.  But  it  not  being  con- 
venient for  him  to  do  so,  ut  tho  request  of  the  Indians,  Johnson  had  been  sent  to 
the  council  by  Brant.  On  the  4th  of  November  Gen.  Chnpin  wrote  to  Brant, 
attempting  to  soften  down  the  apparent  harshness  of  tho  measure  toward  Jutin- 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


125 


the  principal  chiefs,  among  whom  were  Red-Jacket, 
Cornplanter,  Farmer's-Brother,  Little-Beard,  Big-Sky 
and  the  Fish-Carrier,  dined  with  Colonel  Pickering. 
Much  good  humor  prevailed  .  this  occasion.  The  In- 
dians laid  aside  their  stoicism,  indulged  in  many  repar- 
tees, and  manifested  the  keenest  relish  for  wit  and  hu- 
mor. Red-Jacket,  in  particular,  was  conspicuous  for 
the  readiness  and  brilliance  of  his  sallies.  But  there 
were  clouds  lowering  in  the  sky  on  the  following  day. 
At  the  opening  of  the  council,  the  first  business  was  the 
presentation  of  a  letter  which  they  had  prepared,  to  be 
transmitted  to  Brant  by  the  hand  of  Johnson.  In  this 
letter  the  chiefs  expressed  their  sorrow  that  his  messen- 
ger had  not  been  permitted  to  remain  with  them  in  thu 
council ;  and  for  the  reasons  of  his  dismissal,  the  Mohawk 
captain  was  referred  to  Johnson's  own  relation.  They 
farther  assured  Brant  that  they  were  determined  to  ad- 
here to  the  boundary  lines  as  they  had  been  agreed  upon 
among  the  Indians  the  year  before.  In  conclusion  they 
expressed  to  their  old  war-chief  a  feeling  sense  of  their 
present  feeble  condition.  "  They  were,"  they  said,  "  a 
poor,  despised,  though  still  an  independent  people, 
brought  into  suffering  between  two  white  nations  striving 
which  should  be  the  greatest."  Nothing  could  have 
been  more  true  than  this  last  remark. 


11 


i  '     it 


son.  In  this  letter  Chapin  said : — "  After  Mr.  Joh.ison  arrived,  some  difficulties 
existed  wlilch  made  it  inconvenient  for  him  to  attend  the  treaty,  not  for  any  unfa- 
vorable regard  to  the  gentleman,  but  for  certain  reasons  of  which  he  will  inform 
you."  Colonel  I'ickering  also  wrote  to  Brant  upon  the  same  subject.  Brant 
replied  to  Gen.  Chapin  on  the  4th  of  December,  and  to  Colonel  Pickering  on  the 
30lh,  in  l)otli  of  which  letters  he  avows  that  .Johnson  went  at  his  request.  [The 
MSS.  of  these  letters  are  in  the  author's  possession.] 


,  ^"[i 


Ml' 


iM 


Hi 


Mh  -! 


i^ 


12G 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


This  communication  gave  high  displeasure  to  Colonel 
Pickering,  and  there  were  again  symptoms  of  an  unto- 
ward breaking  up  of  the  council.  Tlie  Senecas  were 
displeased  that  the  treaty  had  not  been  liolden  at  their  old 
council  fire  at  Buffalo  Creek ;  words  ran  high,  and  their 
eyes  at  times  flashed  with  vengeful  fire.  It  must  have 
been  at  this  juncture  that  Red-Jacket  made  the  celebra- 
ted unreported  speech,  a  glowing  account  of  which  is 
contained  in  several  modern  Indian  works* — that  is,  if 
the  speech  was  ever  delivered,  a  fact  which  there  is 
some  reason  to  doubt, — at  least  in  the  manner  and  form 
described.  According  to  the  writer  referred  to,  the 
treaty  was  held  on  a  beautiful  acclivity  that  overlooks 
Canandaigua  Lake : — 

"  The  witnesses  of  the  scene  will  never  forget  the  powers  of 
native  oratory.  Two  clays  had  passed  away  in  negotiation 
with  the  Indians  for  a  cession  of  their  lands.  The  contract 
was  supposed  to  be  nearly  completed  when  Red-Jacket  arose. 
With  the  grace  and  dignity  of  a  Roman  senator  he  drew  his 
blanket  around  him,  and  with  a  piercing  eye  surveyed  the  mul- 
titude.    All  was  hushed.     Nothing  was  interposed  to  break 


f  V, 


*  Copied  into  Drake's  Book  of  the  Indians,  and  also  Thatrhor's  Indian  Biog- 
raphy, from  a  correspondent  of  tlic  New-York  American,  who  wrote  some  fifteen 
or  twenty  years  ago.  The  writer  averred  that  ho  was  present ;  but  he  speaks  of 
"  the  gentle  rustling  of  the  tree  tops,  under  whoso  shade  they  were  gathered," 
whereas  it  was  now  the  closing  week  of  October,  and  according  to  Mr.  Savarv's 
journal,  whence  the  materials  for  the  present  liistory  of  the  treaty  are  chielly 
drawn,  the  ground  was  covered  with  snow  to  the  depth  of  several  inches.  The 
trees  were  then  afl'ording  no  shade,  and  the  weather  was  that  of  winter.  Mr. 
Thomas  Morris,  moreover,  who  was  then  a  resident  of  Canandaigua,  and  in  at- 
tendance upon  the  council,  recollects  no  such  speech  as  that  here  imputed  to 
Red-Jacket, — nor  does  Mr.  Savary  refer  to  it.  The  account,  therefore,  is  either 
an  exaggeration,  or  apocryphal. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


127 


the  silence,  save  the  gentle  rustling  of  the  tree-tops  under 
whose  shade  they  were  gathered.  After  a  long  and  solemn, 
but  not  unmeaning  pause,  ho  commenced  his  speech,  in  a  low 
voice  and  sententious  style.  Rising  gradually  with  his  subject, 
he  delineated  the  primitive  simplicity  and  happiness  of  his 
peojile,  and  the  wi'ongs  they  had  sustained  from  the  usurpa- 
tions of  white  men,  with  such  a  bold,  but  faithful  pencil,  that 
every  auditor  was  soon  raised  to  vengeance,  or  melted  into 
tears.  The  effect  was  inexpressible.  But  ere  the  emotions 
of  admiration  and  sympatliy  had  subsided,  the  white  men  be- 
came alarmed.  They  were  in  the  heart  of  the  Indian  coun- 
try,— sutTounded  by  more  than  ten  times  their  number,  who 
were  inflamed  by  the  remembrance  of  their  injuries,  and  exci- 
ted to  indignation  by  the  eloquence  of  a  favorite  chief  Apal- 
led  and  terrified,  the  white  men  cast  a  cheerless  gaze  upon  the 
horde  around  them.  A  nod  from  the  chiefs  miglit  be  the 
onset  of  destruction.  At  this  j-orlentous  moment  Farmer's- 
Brother  interposed.  Ho  replied  not  to  his  brother  chief,  but, 
with  a  sagacity  truly  aboriginal,  he  caused  a  cessation  of  the 
council,  introduced  good  cheer,  commended  the  eloquence  of 
Red-Jaci- ct,  and  before  the  meeting  had  re-assembled,  with 
the  aid  of  other  prudent  chiefs,  he  had  moderated  the  fury  of 
his  nation  to  a  more  salutary  review  of  the  question  before 
them." 

If  the  incident,  as  thus  related,  occurred  at  all,  it 
must  have  been  at  this  stage  of  the  proceedings,  since 
there  was  no  other  moment  of  excitement,  during  the  sit- 
tings of  this  protracted  council,  that  could  have  awakened 
such  a  temper.  But  the  aspect  of  the  negotiation  was 
changed  on  the  following  day,  by  the  arrival  of  a  Tus- 
carora  runner,  despatched  from  Niagara  by  Colonel 
Butler,  with  tidings  of  the  signal  defeat  of  Little  Turtle 
and  the  INIiamies,  with  their  confederates,  by  General 


1  ;iii 


1;: 


Ji, 


1 

'-'n 

:    1 

i. 

■  ! 

J 

1 

I; 

■    \ 

n 

1 

1 

|-:r 


;»'i;il 


'  l''     . 


!'  '  ■        I, 


i  :  h 


m 

■M 


¥ 


,'      H 


!' 


iFi 


128 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


Wayne,  or  Su-kach-gook,*  as  he  was  called  by  the  sa- 
vages.    The  news  of  this  event  had  an  immediate  and 
striking  effect  upon  the  deportment  of  the  Indians.     The 
successive  defeats  of  Harmar  and  St.  Clair,  by  the  In- 
dians, in  the  earlier  part  of  that  desultory  yet  bloody 
war,  had  inspired  the  whole  race  with  the  hope  that 
their  fortunes  were  about  taking  a  more  favorable  turn, 
and  that  they  might  still  be  able  to  make  a  stand  against 
the  farther  advance  of  the  whites,  if  indeed,  by  a  grand 
combination  of  the  whole  race  of  red  men,  they  might 
not  one  day  succeed  in  driving  them  back  across  the 
great  water.     In  these  hopes  and   aspirations  the  Six 
Nations  strongly  sympathized ;   and   while   the  contest 
at  the   West  was  undecided,  since  the  arms  of  their 
brethren  had  been  twice  crowned  with  success,  the  Six 
Nations   carried    themselves   with   a   considerable    de- 
gree of  arrogance.     They  were  rude  and  saucy  to  the 
white  settlers,  would   impudently  enter  their  houses, 
take  the  prepared  food  from  the  tables  without  leave, 
and   commit  other  offences.!     Their   deportment   was 
rather    haughty  at    the  council    until    the    advices  of 
Wayne's  complete  success  were  received.     Indeed  there 
is  reason  to  believe  that  had  "  The  Black  Snake"  been 
defeated,  neither  persuasions  nor  treaties  would  have 
kept  the  whole  Seneca  nation  from  rushing  into  the  con- 
test.    But  the  complete  overthrow  of  Little  Turtle  and 
his  forces  at  the  Miamies  awoke  them  from  their  dream, 

*  The  Black  Snake. 

t  MS.  letter  to  the  author  from  George  Hosmer,  Esq.,  of  Avon,  N.  Y., — a  resi- 
dent of  the  Genesee  valley  at  the  period  referred  to.  The  valley  was  then  thickly 
peopled  by  the  Senecas. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


189 


and  their  demeanor  was  at  once  subdued  into  compara- 
tive docility.* 

But  farther  cmbarrussmeuts  arose  on  the  next  day,  in 
consequence  of  the  jealousies  that  had  been  infused  into 
the  minds  of  the  Indians,  against  the  Cornplanter.  His 
frequent  interviews  with  Colonel  Pickering  had  been 
marked,  and  were  followed  by  feelings  of  distrust.  Little 
Billy  took  it  upon  himself  to  rebuke  the  warrior  sharply, 
telling  him  that  he  was  taking  too  much  upon  himself^ — 
that  he  seemed  to  forget  that  he  was  but  a  war-chief, 
and  was  transcending  the  bounds  of  his  proper  depart- 
ment, by  partaking  so  largely  in  the  conduct  of  civil 
affairs.  Cornplanter  replied  that  he  had  exerted  himself 
many  years  for  the  good  of  the  nation,  but  that  if  they 
were  displeased  with  him,  or  had  no  farther  need  of  liis 
services,  he  would  return  home.  And  such  was  his  in- 
tention. He  did  not  appear  in  council  on  that  day  ;  but 
after  it  was  opened,  Colonel  Pickering  interposed  in  his 
behalf,  and  in  regard  to  the  private  interviews  between 
the  Cornplanter  and  himself,  assumed  all  the  blame : 
Cornplanter  had  not  visited  him,  except  when  specially 
sent  for.  This  explanation  pacified  the  murmurers  for 
the  moment,  but  their  suspicions  were  re-awakened 
within  a  few  days  thereafter ; — parties  were  formed 
against  the  warrior ;  and  in  a  council  of  the  chiefs  pri- 
vately by  themselves,  which  was  continued  until  near  mid- 
night, his  position  became  exceedingly  critical.  It  is 
necessary  to  note  the  difficulties  by  which  the  Corn- 

*  Letter  from  George  Hosnier,  Esq.     Also  conversations  of  the  author  with 
Thonias  Morris. 

17 


:]'■!■ 


1  m 


I 


'  ui. 


t:h  H 


Ml 


130 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


planter  was  here  environed,  because  of  their  connexion 
with  an  event  occurring  at  a  subsequent  period  in  the  life 
of  Red-Jiickct. 

The  council  having  already  been  continued  many 
days,  while  yet  the  main  business  of  the  commissioner 
had  scarcely  liecn  touched,  Colonel  Pickering  determined, 
on  the  2Sth  of  October,  to  bring  the  whole  subject-matter 
with  which  he  was  charged,  directly  before  the  chiefs, 
and  to  an  issue.  The  council  numbered  more  chiefs  and 
warriors,  on  that  day,  than  had  met  the  commissioner  on 
any  former  occasion.  In  the  opening  of  a  very  long 
speech,  the  Colonel  reminded  them  that,  notwithstanding 
they  had  been  tliere  so  mjiny  days,  the  chiefs  had  only 
called  his  attention  to  two  rusty  spots  in  the  chain  of 
friendship.  One  of  these  he  liad  already  l^rightened; 
but  the  rust  of  the  other  was  thought  by  their  cliief  war- 
rior to  be  so  very  deep  that  it  could  not  be  rubbed  off. 
This  related  to  the  great  and  always  vexatious  question 
of  boundaries.  Upon  this  sulyect  the  commissioner  took 
an  extended  review  of  all  the  negotiations  that  had  taken 
place  between  the  whites  and  themselves,  during  the  ad- 
ministration of  tlicir  alliiirs  by  Sir  WDliam  Johnson,  land 
since  that  period,  proving  to  them  by  successive  treaties, 
and  by  ma])s,  the  justice  of  the  claims  of  the  United 
States,  and  the  viureasonableness  of  thcnr  owai  complaints ; 
insisting  upon  all  the  cessions  of  territory  that  had  been 
made, — and  recapitulating  the  provisions  of  the  treaty  of 
Fort  Stanwix,  which  liad  been  confirmed  by  the  Six  Na- 
tions themselves  nt  tlie  treaty  of  Muskingum.  Neverthe- 
less the  commissioner  now  oilered  to  stipulate  that  the 


il  ;n 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


131 


Indians  should  still  enjoy  the  privilege  of  hunting  upon 
all  the  lands  they  had  ceded,  and  that  their  settlements 
thereon  should  remain  undisturbed.  He  added  also  that 
their  annuity  from  the  United  States  should  be  increased 
from  fifteen  hundred  to  four  thousand  live  hundred  dol- 
lars,— to  say  nothing  of  ten  thousand  dollars  worth  of 
presents  he  had  with  him  for  distribution,  on  a  favorable 
issue  of  the  council.  In  consequence  of  these  liberal 
propositions,  the  commissioner  hoped  the  Indians  would 
cheerfully  comply,  and  join  him  in  digging  a  deep  pit 
wherein  to  bury  all  former  differences,  and  take  hold  of 
the  chain  of  friendship  so  fast  that  nothing  should  ever 
again  force  it  out  of  their  hands. 

The  Indians  agreed  to  consider  the  proposals,  and 
several  successive  days  were  spent  by  them  in  private 
deliberations.  Red-Jacket  had  previously  inform.ed  the 
Quaker  deputation  why  the  Indians  had  invited  them  to 
attend  upon  this  council.  Believing  the  Quakers  to  be 
an  honest  people,  and  friends  to  them,  lliey  desired  their 
presence  that  they  might  see  that  the  Indians  were  not 
deceived  or  imposed  upon.  On  tlie  JMst  f)f  October, 
while  yet  deliberating  upon  the  pro[)ositions  of  Colonel 
Pickering  in  private,  a  deputation  of  the  chiefs,  consisting 
of  Red-Jacket,  Clear-Sky,  Sagareesa,*  and  a  chief  of 
the  Cayugas,  waited  upon  the  Quaker  deputies,  for  the 
purpose  of  holding  a  confidenlial  conversation.  The 
white  people,  and  others  having  no  business  there, 
having  been  excluded,  Red-Jacket  spoke  nearly  as 
follows : — 

*  A  venerable  christian  cliicf  u[  the  Tuscaroras,  yet  living,  in  1841. 


'» 


<l  ,1 


11 


J 


it 


132 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


1*1! 


m 


"  Brothers  : — You  see  here  four  of  us  of  the  Six  Nations, 
who  are  assembled  at  this  place,  in  the  will  of  the  Great  Si^irit, 
to  transact  the  business  of  the  treaty.  You  have  been  waiting 
here  a  long  time,  and  often  visited  by  our  chiefs,  and  as  yet 
no  marks  of  respect  have  been  sho\vn  to  you. 

"  Brothers  : — We  are  deputed  by  the  council  of  chiefs  as- 
sembled, to  come  and  see  you.  We  understand  that  you  told 
Sagarecsa  that  you  should  not  have  come  but  at  our  request, 
and  that  you  stood  ready  to  afford  us  any  assistance  within 
your  power. 

"  Brothers  : — Wc  hope  you  will  make  your  minds  easy. 
We  who  arc  now  here  are  but  children ;  the  ancients  being 
deceased.  We  know  that  your  fathers  and  ours  transacted 
business  together,  and  tliat  you  look  up  to  the  Great  Spirit  for 
his  direction  and  assistance,  and  take  no  part  in  war.  We 
suppose  you  were  all  born  on  this  island,  and  consider  you  as 
brethren.  Your  ancestors  came  over  the  great  water,  and 
ours  were  born  here.  This  ouglit  to  be  no  imjiediment  to  our 
considering  each  other  as  brethren. 

"Brothers: — You  all  know  the  proposals  that  have  been 
made  by  Con-neh-sauty,*  as  \/ell  as  the  offers  made  by  us  to 
him.  We  are  all  now  in  the  presence  of  the  Great  Spirit,  and 
we  place  more  confidence  in  you  than  in  any  oilier  people. 
As  you  expressed  your  desire  for  peace,  we  now  desire  your 
help  and  assistance.  Wo  hope  you  will  not  deceive  us,  for  if 
you  should  do  so,  wc  shall  no  more  place  any  confidence  in 
mankind. 

"  Brothers  : — We  wish  if  you  know  the  will  of  Congi'ess, 
or  the  extent  of  tlio  commissioner's  powers,  that  you  would 
candidly  inform  us. 

"  Brothers  : — We  desire  that  what  wo  are  now  about  com- 
municating may  bo  kejit  secret.  Wo  arc  willing  to  give  up 
the  four  mile  path  from  Johnson's  landing  place  to  the  Cayuga 
Creek,  agi'eeably  to  our  compact  vvitli  Sir  William  Johnson 


'  Colunul  rickLTiiig. 


Tr 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


133 


long  ago.  The  other  part  proposed  by  Con-neli-snnty  to  be  re- 
lirKpiished  by  us,  that  is  from  Cayuga  to  BuH'ulo  Creek,  we 
wish  to  resers'o  on  account  of  the  fisheries,  that  our  women 
and  children  may  have  the  use  of  them.  We  desire  to  know 
if  you  can  inform  us  why  the  triangle  on  Lake  Erie  cannot  be 
given  up. 

"  Rrothep.s  : — Cornplanter  and  Captain  Brant,  who  were 
only  war  cliiefs,  were  the  persons  who  attended  the  treaty  at 
Fort  Stanwix,*  and  they  were  to  have  sent  forward  the  propo- 
sals for  our  more  general  consideration.  At  that  time  Old 
Smoke  was  alive,  who  was  a  man  of  great  understanding. 
But  they  were  threatened  into  a  compliance,  in  consequence  of 
which  Captain  Brant  went  off  to  Canada,  desiring  Cornplanter 
to  do  the  best  he  could." 

Tlic  Quaker  deputies  replied  to  the  comrxiittee  of  the 
chiets  on  the  next  day,  but  the  purport  ol"  their  answer 
was  not  preserved  in  William  Savary's  journal,  although 
he  de'iv^-cd  their  opinion.  Red-Jacket  thanked  them 
for  tlieii  i  :>,  which  he  said  "  would  afford  them  con- 
siderabl  ..ucngth."  The  chiefs  having  determined 
upon  llit'ir  answer,  the  commissioner  met  them  in  grand 
council  on  Sunday,  the  2d  of  November.  The  business 
was  opened  by  Clear-Sky,  who  apologized  for  the  delay, 
which  he  said  had  been  required  by  the  importance  of 
the  subject  they  had  been  considering,  and  the  necessity 
of  preserving  unanimity  among  themselves.  Red-Jacket, 
being  the  principal  speaker,  then  rose  and  said,  fust  ad- 
dressing the  chiefs : — 

*  Rocl-.Incl<ot  niujt  havo  rcfinTcd  in  this  passage  to  tlio  spcond  trenty  ol'  fort 
Stanwix,  viz. :  llmt  of  (iov.  (irorgc  Clinton,  held  in  I7III).  Hriirit  wiis  tun  al  tlio 
tivnty  of  1784,  licld  lit  thiit  iilace,  and  Rud-Jacliet  liinisflf  wa^.  Ui'unt  iiuuiidcd 
the  truaty  of  1789. 


1 


ill 


I 


i 


h:. 


'      ,    -t 

/     I 


I      " 


■4 


.lit  "if 

1     ill  sll 


f 


iff 


P 


134 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


"  Brotiif.rs  : — ^^We  request  that  all  the  nations  present  will 
attend  to  what  we  are  about  to  deliver.  Wc  are  now  convened 
on  one  of  the  days  of  the  Great  Spirit." 


Then  addressing   Colonel  Pickering,  he  proceeded : — ■ 

"  Erotiier  : — You  now  represent  the  President  of  the  Uni- 
ted States,  and  when  you  spoke  to  us,  we  considered  it  as  the 
voice  of  the  fifteen  fires.  You  desired  that  we  would  take  the 
matter  under  our  deliberate  consideration,  and  consult  each 
other  well,  that  when  the  chain  was  rusty  it  might  be  bright- 
ened. AVe  took  General  Washington  by  the  hand,  and  desired 
this  council-fire,  that  all  the  lines  of  dispute  might  be  settled. 

"  Brotukk  : — We  told  you  befoie  of  the  two  rusty  places 
on  the  chain,  which  were  also  pointed  out  by  the  sachems. 
Instead  of  complying  with  our  request  respecting  the  places 
where  we  told  you  the  chain  was  rusty,  you  offered  to  relin- 
quish the  land  on  Lake  Eiie,  eastward  of  the  triangular  piece 
sold  by  Congress  to  I'ennsylvania,  and  to  retain  the  four  mile 
path  between  Cayuga  and  Buflalo  Creek,  by  which  you  expect 
to  brighten  the  chain. 

"  Hrother  : — We  thought  you  had  a  sharp  file  to  take  ofT 
the  rust,  but  wc  believe  it  must  hav(!  been  dtdl,  or  else  you  let 
it  slip  out  of  your  hands.  With  respect  to  the  four  mile  path, 
we  are  in  want  of  it  on  account  of  the  fisheries.  Although  we 
are  but  children,  we  are  sharp-sighted,  and  we  see  that  you 
want  that  strip  of  land  for  a  road,  that  when  you  have  vessels 
on  the  lakes  you  may  have  harbors.  IJut  we  wish  that  in  re- 
spect to  that  land,  the  treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix  may  not  be  bro- 
ken. You  white  people  have  increased  very  fast  on  this  island, 
which  was  given  to  us  Indians  by  the  Great  Spirit.  Wc  are 
now  become  a  small  people.  You  are  cutting  off  our  lands 
piece  after  piece.  You  are  a  kind-hearted  people,— seeking 
your  own  advantages. 

"  liRoTMEK  : — We  are  tender-hearted,  and  desirous  (»f  peace. 
You  told  us  what  you  would  give  for  our  laud,  to  brighten 


~l!tT- 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


13'> 


your  end  of  the  cliain.  If  you  will  relinquish  the  piece  of 
land  we  have  mentioned,  our  friendship  will  he  strong.  Yeu 
say  you  are  not  proud.  Neither  are  we.  Congress  expects 
we  are  now  settling  the  business  with  regularity.  We  wish 
that  both  parties  may  have  something  to  say  in  settling  peace. 
At  the  time  we  requested  a  conference,  we  also  recpiested  that 
our  friends,  the  Quakers,  should  come  forward,  as  they  are 
promoters  of  peace,  and  we  wanted  them  to  be  witnesses  of 
wliat  took  place.  We  wish  to  do  nothing  private.  We  have 
told  you  of  the  I'usty  jjart,  which  the  file  passed  over  without 
brightening,  and  we  wish  you  to  take  up  the  file  again,  and  rub 
it  very  hard.  You  told  us  that  if  it  would  not  do  without,  you 
would  apply  oil. 

"  Brothkr  : — We  the  sachems,  warriors  and  others,  all  de- 
pend upon  yoi..  Whatever  is  done  we  regard  as  iinal  and 
permanent.  We  wish  you  to  take  it  into  consideration,  and 
give  us  an  answer." 

There  was  more  of  conciliation  and  concession  mani- 
fested in  tliis  speech  than  had  l)een  anticipated.  Colo- 
nel Pickering  replied  in  a  like  amicable  tone,  nrging  the 
reasons  why  the  United  States  must  persi>t  in  obtaining 
the  pathway  along  the  lake  shore,  and  between  the 
lakes.  As  tin  ecjuivalent  for  ti  concession  of  tliis  on  the 
part  of  the  Indiims,  the  large  increase  of  their  aniniity 
had  been  proposed  ;  ;md  he  cheerfully  ottered  to  cede 
back  to  them  all  the  hmds  in  their  lormcr  grants,  upon 
which  their  villages  stood,  idthongh  he  said  that  when 
he  came  I'rom  Philadelphia  it  was  not  expected  he  would 
relinquish  a,  single  himd-breadth.  hi  conclusion,  Colonel 
Pickering  said  he  was  becoming  impatient,  and  he  de- 
sired a  speedy  answer. 

The  proceedings  of  the  day  were  closed  by  another 


}] 


u 


Hit 


If' 


m 


f 


1 1! 

M 


'1;  Hi 
..i  "^ 


li  't 


11; 
If 


'  \ 


i-  i 


136 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


funeral  ceremony.  Red-Jacket  stated  that  it  was  a  cus- 
tom among  the  Indians,  after  the  decease  of  one  of  their 
brethren,  to  return  to  the  donor  any  present  which  he 
had  received  in  his  hfe  time  as  a  mark  of  respect.  In 
conformity  with  this  usage,  he  now  returned  to  the  com- 
missioner a  silver  gorget,  belonging  to  one  of  their  chiefs 
recently  dead,  which  had  been  presented  to  him  by  the 
United  States.  Farmer's-Brother  made  a  speech  of 
condolence  on  the  occasion,  and  presented  the  customary 
strings  of  black  wampum  to  the  family  of  the  deceased. 
On  the  4th  the  council-fire  was  re-opened,  and  the 
Friends,  not  being  present,  were  sent  for,  the  Indians  re- 
fusing to  proceed  unless  they  were  in  the  assembly. 
Red-Jacket  then  addressed  the  commissioner  : — 

"Brother: — We  the  sachems  of  the  Six  Nations  will  now 
tell  you  our  miiuls.  The  business  of  the  treaty  is  to  brighten 
the  chain  of  friendshiij  between  us  and  the  fifteen  fires.  We 
told  you  the  other  day  it  was  but  a  very  small  piece  that  occa- 
sioned the  rust  on  the  chain. 

"  Brother  : — Now  we  are  conversing  together  to  make  the 
chain  bright.  When  we  told  you  what  would  give  us  satis- 
faction, you  jnoposcd  reserving  the  piece  of  land  between 
Cayuga  and  Buffalo  Creek,  for  building  houses,*  &:c. ;  but  we 
apprehend  you  would  not  only  build  houses  but  towns.  You 
told  us  these  houses  would  be  for  the  accommodation  of  tra- 
vellers in  tho  winter,  as  they  cannot  go  by  water  in  that  season, 
and  that  travellers  would  want  a  staff  to  help  them  along  on 
tho  road.  Wo  have  taken  these  matters  into  serious  con- 
sideration. 


*  Colonel  Pickcrinsf  hod  told  them  in  his  speech  respecting  the  land  for  a  road- 
four  iiiilcs  wide — lli:it  the  Uiiiteil  .States  ulso  wanted  land  to  build  taverns  upon, 
wlwrs  tlie  weary  traveller  might  atop  to  rest. 


I 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


137 


"  Brother  : — We  conclude  that  wc  do  not  understand  this 
as  tlie  white  people  do.  If  we  consent  to  your  proposals,  we 
know  it  will  injure  us.  If  these  houses  should  he  built,  they 
will  tend  to  scatter  us,  and  make  us  fall  in  the  street,  by  drink- 
ing to  excess,  instead  of  benefitting  us.  You  want  land  to 
raise  provisions,  hay,  &c. ;  but  as  soon  as  the  white  people 
settle  there,  Jiey  would  think  the  land  their's, — for  this  is  the 
way  of  the  white  peojjle.  You  mentioned  that  when  you  got 
possession  of  the  gamsons,*  you  would  want  landing-places, 
and  fields  to  plant  on.  l?ii»^  -  wish  to  be  the  sole  owners  of 
these  lands  ourselves        id  \v  you  settle  wiUi  the    '  ■  ..Ai, 

the  Great  Spirit  has  made  a  road  for  you.  You  can  jiass  and 
repass  by  water.  What  you  want  to  reserve  is  entirely  in 
your  own  power. 

"  Brother  : — You  told  us,  when  you  left  Philadelphia,  it 
was  not  expected  by  the  President  that  you  woukl  reliiKjish  a 
foot  of  land.  We  thank  him  for  having  left  you  at  liberty  to 
give  up  what  you  please.  You  have  waited  with  patience  at 
this  council  fire,  kindled  by  freneral  Washington.  It  is  but  a 
very  small  thing  that  keeps  the  chain  from  being  brightened. 
If  you  will  consent  to  give  us  this  small  piece,  and  have  no 
houses  on  it,  the  chain  will  be  bright.  As  to  harbors,  the  wa- 
ters are  between  you  and  the  British.  You  must  talk  to 
them.  You  are  of  the  same  color.  I  see  there  are  many  of 
your  peojile  now  here,  watching  with  their  mouth  open,  to 
take  up  this  land.  If  you  are  a  friend  to  us,  then  disappoint 
them.  Our  patience  is  spent.  Comply  with  our  request. 
Dismiss,  and  we  will  go  home." 

Colonel  Pickering  rejoined,  and  there  was  consider- 
able farther  discussion  between  the  parties.  The  Colo- 
nel abated  somewhat  more  of  his  demands,  consenting, 
on  the  subject  of  roads,  to  reduce  his  proposition  to  ihc 


r'^' 


:^ll 


4      i 


'■i 


■*■  Mil 


I  \ 


*  Tlic  posts  of  Oswcgci,  Niagara,  qikI  Detroit,  tlicii  yut  hckl  by  EiiglaiiJ,  con- 
trary to  tlio  stipulutiuiu  of  tliu  treaty  of  [leucu  of  178J. 

18 


m 

mm 


I  ill 


138 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


liberty  of  constructing  a  road  from  Fort  Sclilosscr  to 
Buffalo  Creek.  After  a  consultation  among  the  sachems, 
Red-Jacket  said : — 

"  We  have  a  right  understanding  of  your  request,  and  have 
agreed  to  grant  you  a  road  from  Fort  Schlosser  to  Bufl'alo 
Creek,  but  not  from  Buffalo  Creek  down  this  way  at  all." 

The  difficulties  having  thus,  as  it  was  supposed,  all 
been  surmounted  by  reason  of  mutual  concessions,  in  a 
very  liberal  spirit  of  compromise  on  the  part  of  Colonel 
Pickering,  nothing  forther  remained  but  to  adjust  the 
points,  and  prepare  duplicates  of  the  treaty  for  signnturc. 
The  whole  day  of  the  5th  was  occupied  by  Colonel 
Pickering  and  a  few  of  the  leading  chiefs  upon  this 
business.  It  was  intended  that  the  documents  should 
be  executed  on  the  6th;  but  on  their  presentation 
to  the  council,  fresh  difficulties  broke  out  in  regard  to 
Presque  Isle.  Great  dissatisfaction  was  manifested  by 
several  of  the  leading  chiefs  at  the  relinquishment  of 
that  point  of  territory.  Having  ascertained  that  the 
Cornplanter  and  Little  Billy  had  received  two  thousand 
dollars  worth  of  goods  at  Muskingum,  and  two  thousand 
more  at  Philadelphia,  as  the  price  of  Presque  Isle,  the 
council  was  greatly  disturbed,  and  broke  up  in  confusion. 
No  business  was  transacted  on  the  7th,  the  incensed  In- 
dians not  yet  having  had  time  to  cool.  On  the  Sth 
Colonel  Pickering  canvassed  the  several  articles  of  the 
treaty  with  some  of  the  leading  chiefs,  and  it  was  ar- 
ranged that  it  should  be  signed  on  the  following  day,  for 
which  purpose  the  council  assembled.    But  here,  again, 


OF  REDJACKET. 


139 


most  unexpectedly,  a  new  obstacle  was  interposed  from 
the  hitherto  fast  friend  of  the  United  States,  the  Corn- 
planter.  The  moodiness  of  many  of  the  Indians  had 
been  observed  when  the  parchments  were  unrolled. 
They  held  down  their  heads  and  manifested  their  dis- 
satisfaction by  silence  for  half  an  hour.  At  length  Corn- 
planter  rose  and  spoke  as  follows : — 

"  Brothers  : — I  I'equest  your  attention,  whilst  I  inform  you 
of  my  own  mind  as  an  individual.  I  consider  the  conduct  of  the 
United  States,  since  the  war,  to  have  been  very  bad.  I  con- 
ceive they  do  not  do  justice.  I  will  mention  what  took  place 
at  New- York,  at  one  particular  time.*  After  the  treaty  of 
Fort  Stanwix  I  went  to  New- York  under  an  apprehension 
that  the  commissioners  had  not  done  right;  and  I  laid  before 
Congress  our  grievances  on  account  of  the  loss  of  our  lands  at 
that  treaty.  But  the  thirteen  fires  appi'oved  of  what  the  com- 
missioners had  done,  and  in  confirmation  of  ii  \ey  held  up  the 
paper  with  a  piece  of  silver  hangingtoit.t  Now,  Colonel  Picker- 
ing, you  have  told  us  at  this  treaty  that  what  was  given  up  by  the 
British  was  only  the  land  around  the  forts.  I  am  very  much 
dissatisfied  that  this  was  not  communicated  to  us  before. 
There  has  already  been  too  much  blood  spilt.  If  this  had  been 
known  at  the  close  of  the  war  it  would  have  prevented  any 
blood  bcino:  shed.  I  have  therefore  told  our  warriors  not  to 
sig:i  this  treaty.  The  fifteen  fires  have  deceived  us ;  but  we 
are  under  the  sachems,  and  will  listen  to  what  they  do. 
Though  we  will  not  sign  it,  yet  we  will  abide  by  what  they 
do  as  long  as  they  do  right.  The  United  States  and  the  Six 
Nations  are  now  making  a  firm  peace,  and  we  wish  the  fifteen 
fires  may  never  deceive  them,  as  they  have  deceived  us  war- 
riors.    If  they  once  deceive  the  sachems  it  will  be  bad," 

*  At  the  time  referred  to  New- York  wns  tlie  seat  of  government, 
t  Tho  U'caty  with  England. 


i 


!H 


.1, 


M 

.v: 


il       !• 


V\ 


i,-' 


1 

! 

'              f'  •;.! 

it'' 

t 
!  ■           ■    , 

'.    ■!■ 

1 

r- 

14    ' 

y. 

s 

" 

ll'-. 

;  ' 

tip 


140 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


II 


He  then  took  his  seat,  and  after  a  short  pause  said : — 

"  I  will  put  a  patch  upon  what  I  have  spoken,  I  hope  you 
will  liiiv"  no  uneasiness  at  hearing  the  voice  of  tlje  warriors. 
You.  know  it  is  very  hard  to  be  once  deceivetl;  so  you  must 
not  make  your  minds  uneasy." 

The  Eel,  an  Onondaga  chief,  thereupon  rose  and  made 
a  warm  speech  in  reply  to  the  Cornplanter,  exhorting 
the  sachems  to  fihide  l)y  tlie  decision  to  which  tliey  had 
arrived.  Colonel  Pickering  followed  in  an  energetic 
address,  insisting  that  the  treaty  would  l)e  of  little  effect 
in  securing  future  tranquillity  if  signed  only  by  the  sa- 
chems. The  warriors,  he  contended,  must  sign  it  also, 
or  h(^  would  have  notliing  to  do  with  it.  Two  or  three 
dfiys  were  spent  in  endeavoring  to  soothe  the  warriors 
and  bring  them  to  terms.  These  efforts  were  ultimately 
successl'ul,  and  the  treaty  was  finally  executed  by  both 
sachems  and  warriors  on  the  11th  of  November,  1794. 
By  the  terms  of  the  treaty,  the  United  States  acknow- 
ledged the  reservations  to  the  Oneidas,  Onondagas  and 
Cayugas,  in  their  treaties  with  New- York ; — the  bounda- 
ries of  the  Senecas  were  established,  and  their  title  to 
all  the  lands  within  the  same  acknowledged  by  the  Uni- 
ted States.  The  Six  Nations  engaged  never  to  claim 
any  other  lands  of  the  United  States ;  the  road  was  al- 
lowed from  Schlosser  to  Buffalo  Creek ;  a  passage  was 
granted  to  the  United  States  through  their  country,  to- 
gether with  the  use  of  all  their  harbors  and  rivers.  Other 
minor  particulars  need  not  be  noted.* 

*  For  n  k'tlcr  fioin  Colonel  Pickering  to  Captain  Brant,  respecting  this  treaty, 
and  a  sensible  letter  from  Brant  in  reply,  sco  Appendix  C. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


141 


It  has  been  judged  advisable  to  give  an  extended  ac- 
count of  this  council,  for  several  reasons.  As  has  al- 
ready been  said,  it  was  one  of  the  most  important  nego- 
tiations with  the  Six  Nations  ever  effected  by  the  United 
States,  both  as  to  the  magnitude  of  the  council,  and  the 
results ;  and  yet  less  has  been  known  of  its  history  than 
of  almost  any  other.  The  entire  proceedings  are  more- 
over deemed  to  be  interesting,  as  affording  farther  illus- 
trations of  the  character  of  the  people  once  forming  that 
extended  and  daring  confederacy,  the  terror  of  almost 
half  the  continent,  but  which  has  now  dissolved  into  a 
few  scattered  fragments,  each  melUng  rapidly  away. 
There  is  one  feature  in  the  civil  polity  of  that  confederacy, 
which  is  beheved  on  no  other  occasion  to  have  been  so  fully 
disclosed,  or  so  thoroughly  illustrated,  as  at  this  f^reaty, — 
the  jealousy  of  the  Indiayis  of  the  militanj  power,  and  the  sub- 
ordination in  which  it  was  held  to  the  civil.  It  has  been 
seen  that  on  several  occasions  the  war-chiefs  were  re- 
minded, with  great  emphasis,  of  the  superiority  in  all 
civil  affairs  of  the  sachems,  or  civil  magistrates.  This 
single  fact  shows  that  the  untutored  Aquanuschioni  had 
made  no  inconsiderable  advances  in  the  science  of  free 
government. 

Notwithstanding  the  untoward  incidents  which  occa- 
sionally "  disturbed  the  minds"  of  the  Indians,  the  coun- 
cil broke  up,  and  the  parties  separated,  with  the  utmost 
good  feeling.  The  good  men  forming  the  Quaker  depu- 
tation ingratiated  themselves  into  the  very  hearts  of  the 
Indians.  Their  mission  was  one  of  love,  nor  did  they 
confine  their  exertions  to  labors  for  the  temporal  benefit 


\i      1  ''  i 

f         .|i-  Ijusift 

i 

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s. 

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i  : 

I:! 

k 

1 

i 

142  I'IFE  AND  TIMES 

of  the  sons  of  the  forest  alone.  As  ministers  of  the 
christian  faitli,  they  lost  no  fitting  opportunity  of  impart- 
ing to  them  a  knowledge  of  the  "  Unknown  God"  whom 
they  "  ignorantly  worshipp^^  1."  Religious  meetings  were 
held  by  them  on  the  return  of  every  Sabbath,  and  the 
fierce  chieftains  were  sometimes  melted  into  tears  by 
their  discourses.  Nor  were  the  Indians  alone  the  grati- 
fied party.  Tlic  deputies  studied  their  social  relations, 
and  were  often  pleased  with  what  they  saw  of  their 
manners,  their  wild  sports,  and  the  unrestrained  gamljols 
of  their  children,  as  may  be  seen  by  reference  to  the 
valuable  journal  of  William  Savary,  already  referred 
to.*  The  different  tribes  or  nations  encamped  by  them- 
selves, and  the  Senecas,  by  far  the  most  numerous,  oc- 
cupied several  camps,  under  separate  leaders.  The 
following  account  of  3Ir.  Savai-y's  visit  to  one  of  them 
is  graphic  and  picturesque : — 


"  Fifth  Day,  Oct.  30.  After  dinner,  John  Parish  and  my- 
self rode  to  view  the  Farmor's-Brother's  encampment,  which 
contained  about  five  hundred  Indians.  They  are  located  by 
the  side  of  a  brook,  in  the  woods  ;  having  built  about  seventy 
or  eighty  huts,  by  far  the  most  commodious  and  mgeniously 
made  of  any  that  I  have  seen.  The  i)rincipal  materials  are 
bark,  and  boughs  of  trees,  so  nicely  put  together  as  to  keep 
the  family  dry  and  warm.  The  women  as  well  as  the  men 
appeared  to  be  mostly  employed.  In  this  camp  there  are  a 
large  number  of  pretty  children,  who,  in  all  the  activity  and 
buoyancy  of  healtli,  were  diverting  themselves  according  to 
their  fancy.  The  vast  number  of  deer  the_y  have  killeil,  since 
coming  here,  which  they  cut  up,  and  hang  round  their  huts 

*  Seo  Friendi'  Librtiry,  vol.  i.  pp.  332-370. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


143 


inside  and  out,  to  dry,  together  with  the  rations  of  bncf  which 
they  draw  daily,  give  the  ajipearance  of  plenty  to  supply  the 
few  wants  to  which  they  are  subjected.*  Tlie  ease  and  cheer- 
fulness of  every  countenance,  and  the  delightfulness  of  the 
afternoon,  which  those  inhabitants  of  the  woods  seemed  to  en- 
joy with  a  relish  far  superior  to  those  who  arc  pent  up  in 
crowded  and  populous  cities,  all  combined  to  make  this  the 
most  pleasant  visit  I  have  yet  made  to  the  Indians ;  and  in- 
duced me  to  believe  that  before  they  became  acquainted  with 
white  people,  and  were  infected  with  their  vices,  they  must 
have  been  as  happy  a  people  as  any  in  the  world.  In  return- 
ing to  our  quarters  we  passed  by  the  Indian  council,  where 
Red-Jacket  was  displaying  his  oratory  to  his  brother  chiefs, 
on  the  subject  of  Colonel  Pickering's  pioposals."  On  anc  !ier 
page  Mr.  Savary  says  of  the  orator : — "  Red- Jacket  visited  us 
with  his  wife  and  live  children,  whom  he  had  brought  to  see 
us.  They  were  exceedingly  well  clad,  in  their  manner,  aud 
the  best  behaved  and  prettiest  Indian  children  I  have  ever  met 
with." 

*  On  another  page  of  his  journal,  Mr.  Savary  says  they  sometimes  killed  more 
than  one  hundred  dccrs  in  aday — at  Canandaigua,  in  171)1 ! 


'I.. 


i   ''' 

i 
I 


■Ji'lr 


?■  '-M 


■ ;  xm  I 


CHAPTER  VI. 

iMMEniATE  results  of  the  treaty — General  Indian  pacification — Death  of  Gene- 
ral Cliiipin — Ruil-Jacket's  speech  of  conilolcnce— The  treaty  of  liig  Tree, 
lielil  between  tlu;  Indians  and  Thonins  Munis,  for  Robert  Morris  and  tho 
Holland  Land  Company — Conduct  of  Red-Jacket — The  women  and  war- 
riors—DiniLinlties  with  regard  to  the  reservations — The  White  Woman — In- 
dian ignorance  of  fmiuire,  and  of  numbers — Red-Jacket's  hypocrisy  and 
duplicity — Conclusion  of  the  treaty — Visit  of  Red-Jacket  to  Connecticut. 

NoTwiTHSTANDTxo  tlic  (lifliculiics  cncouiitcrctl  by  the 
commissioner  during  the  protracted  negotiation  tit  Ca- 
nandnigua,  and  th(3  apparent  reluctance  of  the  Indians 
to  accede  to  tho  terms  demanded,  the  arrangements 
sti])uhited  in  the  treaty  gave,  on  the  whole,  ])retty  gene- 
ral satisfaction  to  both  parties, — not  less  to  the  Indians 
themselves  than  to  the  United  States.  "  This  settle- 
ment," said  one  of  the  chiefs  to  Colonel  Pi<.kering, 
"  appears  like  a  great  hght  to  us."  "  And  to  me,"  said 
Colonel  Pickering,  in  a  letter  to  Thaycndanegea,  "  it 
seems  like  a  new  era."*  The  complaints,  for  the  con- 
sideration of  which  the  council  was  called,  were  re- 
moved ;  and  so  many  of  the  individual  chiefs  expressed 
their  satisfaction  with  the  treaty,  in  strong  terms,  that, 
farther  heart-burnings  and  reproaches  for  past  trans- 
actions were  not  anticipated.      The  treaty  of"  (Jrecn- 


Appondix  C. 


Ili   ' 


'■i 


LIFE  AND  TIMKS.  &c. 


145 


villc,  concluded  by  General  Wayne  in  the  following 
5'ear,  crowned  the  work  of  Indian  pacification.  Hence- 
forward, therefore,  fewer  occasions  arose  requiring  the 
national  action  of  the  Iroquois  confederacy,  of  whom 
Red-Jacket  had  now  l^ecomc  the  leading  sachem,  as 
he  had  long  been  the  most  popular  orator.  But  although 
the  relations  of  the  Six  Nations  were  thus  disentangled 
from  tliose  of  the  United  States,  yet  their  own  peculiar 
goveru.nent  remained  to  be  administered  ;  and  what 
with  the  direction  of  their  own  internal  concerns,  and 
the  iiolding  of  occasional  councils  or  treaties,  connected 
with  subse(;uent  sales  of  portions  of  llicir  remaining 
lands,  ther ;  was  still  business  enough  to  keep  the  chiefs 
from  leading  lives  of  unusual  idleness.  Nevertheless 
the  name  of  Red-.Tacket  appears  on  one  occasion  only, 
during  the  three  years  immediately  succeeding  the  treaty 
of  Canandaigiia. 

General  Israel  Chapin,  long  the  SiqHU'intendent  of 
Indian  Atliiirs  Utr  the  ncnlhcrn  (U'partment,  died  early 
in  the  sj)ring  of  17!)-).  lie  had  acquir(;d  the  entire  con- 
fidence of  the  Six  Nations,  and  shared  largely  of  their 
affection.  In  consequence  of  his  decease,  a  count  il  was 
held  at  Canandaigua,  in  honor  ot  his  nicinory,  on  the 
2Sth  of  April  of  that  year.  Among  the  chiefs  in  attend- 
ance were  the  Farmcr's-Brothcr,  Red-Jacket,  (Mear- 
Sky,  and  others,  representing  the  several  nations,  excep- 
ting the  Mohawks.  The  following  speech  of  condolence 
was  delivered  by  Red-Jacket  to  the  son  of  tht;  deceased, 
Israel  Chapin,  Jr.,  wlio  liad  served  in  the  capacity  of 
deputy  to  his  father  fn  several  years: — 

19 


1;^ 


y\\ 


I        !l 


.ttJ 


146 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


"  Brother  :  I  wish  you  to  pay  attention  to  what  I  have  to 
say.  You  will  recollect  you  forwarded  a  manuscript  to  us, 
informing  us  of  the  loss  of  our  good  friend.  The  loss  is  great 
to  us  as  well  as  to  you.  Yet  you  will  hear  what  wc  have  to 
say,  and  I  wish  you  to  pay  attention. 

"  liROTiiER  :  We  consider  that  wc  liave  met  with  a  great 
loss, — we  of  the  Six  Nations,  as  well  as  the  Ignited  States, — 
a  person  to  whom  we  looked  as  a  father,  and  a  person  ap- 
pointed to  stand  between  the  Six  Nations  and  the  United 
States.  It  gives  our  minds  a  great  deal  of  uneasiness  to  think 
we  have  lost  so  valuable  a  friend,  who  has  taken  so  much  pains 
to  brighten  the  cha'n  of  friendship  between  the  Six  Nations 
and  the  TTnited  States.  We  fear  that  agreeable  friendship 
will  be  broken  up.     Lot  us  prevent  its  failing  if  we  can. 

Brotukr  :  Tn  conformity  to  the  good  old  ancient  customs  of 
our  forefathers,  we  now  level  the  grave  of  our  friend.  We 
gather  leaves  and  weeds,  and  strew  them  over  the  grave,  and 
endeavor  to  banish  grief  from  our  minds  as  much  as  we  can. 
[Fourteen  sfritiqs  of  black  and  ichite  wa/njmm.] 

"  Ukotuers  :  You  of  the  Fifteen  Fires:  Listen  again  to  the 
voice  of  the  Six  Nations  :  The  man  whom  you  apixjinted  for 
us  to  communicate  our  minds  to  has  left  us,  and  gone  to  an- 
other woild.  \Ve  are  now  at  a  loss  whom  to  ojien  our  minds 
to,  shoultl  there  be  any  thing  to  communicate  from  one  to  an- 
other.    Wo  used  to  reveal  it  to  him. 

"  Brothers  :  You  of  the  Fifteen  Fires  :  Wo  think  that 
you  feel  this  great  loss  as  well  as  we.  While  he  hatl  the  con- 
ducting of  busiiiesH,  it  appeared  as  though  the  Tnited  States 
Bat  close  by  our  sides.  If  we  had  any  thing  to  conununicatc, 
ho  took  it  with  care  to  the  Great  Council  Fiie.  Now  as  we 
have  lost  our  guide,  it  troubles  our  minds  to  fnid  out  how  to 
keep  up  the  friendship  that  wo  have  had  heretofore. 

"  J^rotiiers  of  the  Fifteen  Fires:  You  will  allow  us  to 
8peak  our  sentiments.  When  you  have  before  appointed  a 
person  to  guido  us  in  <tur  l»iisiness,  you  have  chosen  one  to 
give  siiiisfaclion  to  us,  as  wc  boliove  he  did  to  you.     Some- 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


147 


times  there  was  more  than  he  could  attend  to.  He  then  sent 
forward  his  son  to  act  in  his  behalf.  We  are  well  acquainted 
with  this  young  man,  as  we  have  frequently  transacted  busi- 
ness with  him,  and  we  find  his  mind  to  be  good. 

Brothers  :  He  being  well  ac([uainted  with  our  business, 
and  all  the  papers  and  belts  of  wampum  being  in  his  hands, 
we  cannot  conceive  of  any  other  person  so  suitable  to  fill  his 
father's  scat.  His  appointment  would  give  us  satisfaction. 
We  ask  you  to  grant  us  the  privilege  of  this  our  rctjuest. 

"  Brothers  :  This  is  the  second  petition  of  the  kind  that 
we  have  made.  But  our  petition  before  was  not  taken  into 
consideration.  We  hoj^e  now  you  will  notice  it.  We  think 
the  son  will  walk  in  the  steps  of  his  father." 

This  speech  having  been  transmitted  to  the  seat  of 
government,  General  Washington,  who  was  yet  Presi- 
dent, immediately  complied  with  the  rccjuest,  and  Cap- 
tain Israel  Chapin  was  nppointcd  to  the  .-igency  made 
vacant  by  the  death  <  •:'  his  father.* 

The  next  transaction  wliich  l)rought  Rod-Jacket  con- 
spicuously before  the  public,  was  the  treiity  of  "  Big 
Tree,"t  held  in  tlie  year  1797.  Tlie  purchiisc  from 
IMassachnsetts  of  the  pre-emptive  right  to  tlic  territory 
of  New-York  lying  beyond  the  Genesee  river,  ])y  llobert 
Morris,  of  rhiladel})hia,  hns  been  incidentally  men- 
tioned in  a  preceding  cliapter.  Massachusetts  had 
contracted  to  sell  this  said  rig  lit  of  pre-emption  to 
Samuel  Ogden,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  by  an  agreement 


*  To  .ToliM  CJn'gg,  Esq.,  of  Ciinainliiigiin,  who  ninrricil  tli(>  (liiiiijhtiM-  of  tho 
younger  Cliapin,  I  litr  '  ,m  indebted  for  several  parcels  of  jcttern  and  niumi- 
•cripls  wliiih  liiivi-  Ucen  of  irTiportmit  Rcrvicu  in  the  present  work. 

t  Tho  site  of  tiio  present  beautiful  town  uf  Genuauo. 


i  ,   i 


\ .-( 


■1  ' 


1 


'•k 


W- 


1,1       III 

>  ^  'I 


f ; n- 


148 


LIFK  AND  TIMKS 


f  i  '  rfl 


.,11 


bearing  date  INIarcli  12,  1791,  and  on  the  lltli  of  May 
following,  Ogden  assigned  his  interest  in  that  agreement 
to  Morris.  The  title  to  Morris  was  confirmed  on  the 
same  day  bj"-  the  commonwealth.  The  tract  embraced 
in  the  purchase  contained  about  four  millions  of  acres  of 
land,  and  the  consideration  paid  by  Morris  was  one  hun- 
dred thousand  pounds  Massachusetts  currenc3%  In  the 
year  1792  Robert  Morris  sold  the  gi-cater  part  of  this 
purchase  to  a  company  of  gentlemen  in  Holland,  since 
known  as  the  Ht)lland  Land  Company. 

By  the  terms  of  his  sale  Mr.  Morris  had  stipulated 
to  extinguish  the  Indian  title,  and  sui-voy  the  whole  tract 
at  his  own  expense, — the  company  retaining  thirty-seven 
thousand  four  hundred  poimds  sterling  until  the  fulfil- 
ment of  this  part  of  the  contract.  It  was  tliercibre  an 
object  lor  Mr.  Morris  to  procure  an  extinguishment  of 
the  Indiun  title  without  unnecessary  delay.  But  it  was 
not  until  th'-  summer  of  1797  that  the  Senecas,  to  whom 
the  territory  belonged,  could  be  persuaded  lo  negotiiite 
upon  the  sul)jcct.  The  council  was  appointed  tor  the 
25th  of  August,  about  the  middle  of  wliicli  month  the 
lndiim.>  began  lo  iissemble  in  grcnt  numbers, — not  the 
Senecas  exclusively,  but  numerous  groups  lioiii  the 
otlier  tribes  came.-  in  to  be  fed  from  the  stores  of  the  com- 
missioners.* The  agents  of  Mr.  Morris  were  the  l;ilG 
Colonel  Williamson,  (ngunl  of  the  estate  of  Sir  Willium 
Pultney,)  and  his  son,  Thomas  Morris.     The  avocations 


•  So  grciuly  ImtigiM'oil  wen-  tlm  Iiidians  wIipii  tlipv  ciiiim  in,  llmt  tlii'v  wore 
ravenous  for  foml.  SevomI  of  llic  iixi-n  liisl  Ivillt'd  for  tliciu  wtTc  di'vouriMl  raw, 
rvuking  in  tliu  bloud. 


OF  RED-JACKKT. 


149 


of  Colonel  Williamson  not  permitting  him  to  intend  the 
council,  the  entire  duty  devolved  upon  Mr.  Thomas 
Morris.  This  was  not  a  negotiation  to  whicli  tlie  United 
States  were  directly  a  party  ;  but  the  humane  policy  of 
the  government  has  always  prompted  it  to  appoint  com- 
missioners to  attend  all  councils  of  the  Six  Nations  held 
for  the  sale  of  their  lands,  sulisequcnt  to  the  great  trctity 
of  Canandaigua,  of  1794.  Massachusetts,  like\vi«',  had 
resei'ved  the  right  of  sending  an  agent  to  such  councils, 
to  watch  over  the  interests  of  the  Indians.  Accordinuiv, 
at  the  treaty  of  Big  Tree,  Colonel  Jeremiah  Wadsworth, 
of  Connecticut,  appenred  as  tlie  commissioner  on  the 
part  of  the  United  Stntes,  and  General  Shepherd  in  l)c- 
half  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts.  TIk;  iigcnt 
on  the  part  of  the  Holland  Company  was  tlie  late  Wil- 
liam Bayard,  of  New- York. 

Tlie  coimcil  having  been  duly  opened,  the  commis- 
sioners from  the  United  States  and  jNIassachusetts  pre- 
sented their  credentials,  and  addressed  tlie  assembly, 
declaring  the  object  of  their  appointment,  and  assuring 
the  Indians  of  their  desire  to  guard  their  interests,  and 
see  that  no  injustice  was  done  them.  Mr.  ^Morri.s  then 
fornia,lly  opened  the  business  for  the  consideration  of 
which  the  council  had  been  convened,  e\|)laiiiing  to 
them  the  desire  of  his  father  to  purchase  their  lands,  or 
such  a.  portion  of  them  as  they  might  be  willing  to  sell. 
He  endeavored  to  persuade  them  that  an  annual  iiicouie, 
derived  from  tin;  avails  of  sucli  portions  of  their  territory 
as  were  not  required  for  their  actual  occupation,  would 
be  bettor  for  them  than  the  retaining  of  a  huge  tract  (»!" 


'    1 

■      'J 


t 


\       ^ 


'^rJ 


150 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


country  from  which  they  could  derive  no  benefit,  save 
from  their  use  as  hunting-grounds ;  and  as  such  he  as- 
sured them  that  they  would  be  as  open  to  them  after  the 
sale,  should  they  make  it,  as  before.  In  conclusion,  he 
offered  them  the  sum  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars 
for  the  entire  tract,  allowing  them  to  retain  such  reser- 
vations as  might  be  re(  quired  for  their  actual  occupation. 
But  should  they  insist  upon  reservations  of  unnecessary 
size,  some  deduction  from  the  amount  of  purchase- 
money  offered  must  be  made.  The  proposition  having 
been  submitted,  the  open  council  was  adjourned,  and  the 
Indians  occupied  several  days  in  private  deliberation. 
Wiien  at  length  they  were  ready  to  make  answer,  the 
commissioners  were  iiotified  and  the  council  re-assem- 
bled. To  Farmer's-Brother,  a  chief  justly  enjoying 
their  confidence  for  his  integrity,  was  confided  the  duty 
of  replying  to  tlie  propositions.  His  speech  was  not 
characteristic  of  the  man,  for  it  was  not  decided  in  its 
tone.  He  started  various  objections  to  stalling  their 
lands,  and  yet  not  absolutely  declining  to  do  so.  To 
these  objections  Mr.  INIorris  replied  at  considerable 
length  ;  whereupon  there  was  a  farther  adjournment,  that 
the  Indians  might  have  yet  another  opportunity  for  pri- 
vate consultation. 

On  the  re-opening  of  the  council,  Red-Jacket  rose  as 
the  organ  to  make  known  the  determination  of  his  peo- 
ple. He  said  they  were  not  yet  convinced  that  it  was 
their  duty  to  dispose  of  their  lands  at  any  price.  Mr. 
Morris  had  said,  when  speaking  of  the  little  value  of 
their  lauds  while  remaining  in  a  wild  and  unproductive 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


151 


state,  that  the  only  value  they  had  to  them  while  in  that 
condition,  arose  from  the  consciousness  they  felt  lliat 
they  owned  them.  The  truth  of  this  remark  was  ad- 
mitted by  Red-Jacket,  but,  said  he, — 

"  That  knowledge  is  every  thing  to  us.  It  raises  us  in  our 
own  estimation.  It  creates  in  our  bosoms  a  proud  feeling 
which  elevates  us  as  a  nation.  Observe  the  difference  between 
the  estimation  in  which  a  Seneca  and  an  Oneida  are  held. 
We  are  courted,  while  the  Oneidas  arc  considered  a  degraded 
people,  fit  only  to  make  brooms  and  baskets.  Why  tiiis  dif- 
forence  1  It  is  liecause  the  ''  ^necas  are  known  as  the  proprie- 
tors of  a  broad  domain,  while  the  Oneidas  are  cooped  up  in  a 
narrow  space." 

In  liis  rejoinder  Mr.  Morris  attempted  to  take  the  con- 
ceit out  of  the  Seneca  orator,  by  assuring  him  that  the 
consequence  of  his  nation  was  much  less  than  he  sup- 
posed ; — in  proof  of  which  assertion  he  reminded  him  of 
the  little  consideration  awarded  to  a  deputation  of  their 
chiefs,  during  their  pacific  mission  to  the  hostile  Indians 
at  the  Miamis  a  few  years  before.     Notwidistanding  the 
extent  of  their  territory,  they  were  treated  with  so  much 
neglect  and  indifference  that  the  chiefs  returned  irom 
the  mission  deeply  mortified.     Red-.Tacket  replied  that 
the  statement  of  Mr.  Morris  was  true  ;  but,  he  continued, 
the  reason  why  they  had  been  thus  treated  was  to  be 
found  in  the  fact  that  they  were  in  bad  company  !  Tiiey 
had  made  that  journey  to  the  west  with  the  commis- 
sioners of  the  United  States.     Had  they  gone  alone, 
their  chiefs  would  have  been  treated  as  Senecas  should 
be  treated  throughout  the  world.* 

*  The  reference  here  is  to  the  tnissiun  of  Colonel  Pickering,  Beverly  RunJulph 


r-l 


ff! 


1-52 


LIFE  AND  TIMKS 


A  fortnight  having  been  spent  in  this  way,  and  little 
progress  made,  the  commissioners  and  Mr.  Bayard  be- 
came impatient, — urging  Mr.  IVIorris  to  assume  a  more 
peremptory  manner,  and  bring  the  Indians  to  an  imme- 
diate dccisi(m,  one  way  or  the  other.  It  was  in  vain 
that  Mr.  Morris,  who  understood  the  Indian  character 
far  better  than  they,  assured  them  that  the  course  they 
were  proposing  would  of  all  others  be  most  likely  to  de- 
feat their  ol)ject.  The  commissioners  insisted  upon  de- 
cisive step;,  and  Mr.  ISIorris  most  reluctantly  consented. 
In  answer,  tlicrefore,  to  a  proposition  from  the  Indians 
that  was  totally  inadmissible,  Mr.  Morris  tok.  Jiem  that 
such  a  proposal  required  no  time  lor  consideration.  He 
refused  it  at  once, — adding,  that  unless  the  Indians  were 
prepared  to  make  some  more  reasonable  offer,  it  was  of 
no  use  to  keejo  the  council-lire  burning  nny  longer. 
They  might  better  rake  it  up,  and  terminate  all  farther 
discussion.  Upon  this  remark  Red-Jacket  sprang  upon 
his  feet  and  exclaimed  : — 


h 


I 


"  You  have  now  arrivocl  fit  the  point  to  which  I  wislied  to 
brhig  you.  You  told  us  in  your  first  address  tliat  even  in  the 
event  of  our  not  agreeing  to  sell  our  lands,  we  would  part 
friends.  Here,  then,  is  my  hand.  I  now  cover  nj)  the  coun- 
cil-fire." 

This  decision  of  the  chiefs  was  received  with  great 
apparent  satisfiiction  by  their  people.     They  indulged  in 


and  General  Lincoln,  to  tlio  liostile  Indians  at  the  west,  in  1793.  Thcso  com- 
missioncM  wore  accompanied  by  ii  dcjiutation  of  .Seneca  cliiefs,  but  as  Red-.Iuckct 
was  not  of  their  number,  nn  account  of  that  mission  lins  not  been  ;;iven  in  tho 
text.     Its  full  history  may  be  found  in  th(;  second  volume  of  the  Life  of  Brant. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


153 


1 


violent  abuse  of  the  commissicners,  and  of  Mr.  Morris  in 
particular,  and  made  the  surrounding  forests  ring  with 
their  savage  yells.  Indeed,  a  person  unaccustomed  to 
their  character  and  manners  would  have  trembled  for 
his  scalp.  Deep  was  the  mortification  of  the  commis- 
sioners, of  Mr.  Bayard  especially,  at  this  unexpected 
issue  of  the  experiment.  He  had  been  the  most  impor- 
tunate in  urging  the  trial  upon  Mr.  Morris,  and  his  princi- 
pals, the  Holland  Land  Company,  were  the  most  deeply 
interested  in  the  result.  From  the  prompt  and  decided 
manner  in  which  the  negotiation  had  been  broken  off, 
moreover,  he  had  little  expectation  that  any  thing  more 
favorable  was  at  that  time  to  be  anticipated.  Yet  he 
urged  Mr.  Morris  very  strenuously  to  make  another 
effort,  and  if  possible  to  rekindle  the  fire.  To  these  so- 
licitations that  gentleman  assented,  upon  condition  that  he 
should  be  allowed  to  take  his  own  course  with  the  In- 
dians, without  interference  on  the  part  either  of  the  agent 
or  commissioners. 

On  the  succeeding  day  Farmer' s-Brother  called  upon 
Mr.  Morris,  and  expressed  the  hope  that  the  Ihilure  of 
the  treaty  might  not  cool  his  friendship  for  them.  Cer- 
tainly not,  replied  Mi:  Morris,  adding  that  tlicy  had  a 
perfect  right  to  refuse  selling  their  lands.  vStill,  he  con- 
tinued, he  was  dissatisfied  with  the  manner  in  wliich  the 
council  had  been  broken  up,  and  with  the  treatment  he  had 
received  at  the  hnnds  of  their  warriors  immediately  after 
the  fire  had  been  raked  up.  Such  treatment  he  had  not 
deserved  at  their  hands.  He  ha  I  been  kind  to  them 
ever  since  their  acquaintance  had  begun.     His  house 

20 


tlii 


1 1  ^ 


M'   1 


W'i': 


•    I 


M 


M 


154 


LIFE  AND  TIMF.S 


had  always  been  open  when  they  came  to  visit  him, 
and  had  l^cen  well  supphcd  with  food  and  hquor,  of 
which  they  had  partaken  whenever  they  came  ;  and  at 
the  present  treaty  all  their  wants  had  been  supplied. 
All  this  Farmer' s-Brother  admitt(}d  to  be  true.  He  re- 
gretted that  die  feelings  of  Mr.  Morris  had  been  wounded 
by  the  violent  and  indecorous  speeches  of  a  few  of  their 
drunken  young  men,  and  lamented  that  the  council-fire 
had  been  so  suddenly  put  out,  inasmuch  as  it  prevented 
anodier  meciing  of  the  council,  in  which  their  difficulties 
might  have  been  explained  and  smoothed  over.  Mr. 
Morris  in  his  reply  farther  remarked  that  the  declaration 
of  Red-Jacket,  cxtinguishmg  the  fire,  was  another  act 
of  injustice  toward  him,  though  perhaps  not  so  intended. 
By  that  procedure  Red-Jacket  had  usurped  a  pow(.u"  which 
he  did  not  possess,  and  had  departed  from  an  established 
custom  of  the  Indians,  by  which  he  who  lighted  a  coun- 
cil-fii'^  alone  had  a  right  to  put  it  out.  This  council- 
fire  had  been  lit  up  by  him,  and  he  only  could  put  it  out. 
As  he  had  not  done  so,  the  fire  was  yet  burning.  To  all 
this  Farmer' s-Brother  assented,  assuring  Mr.  INIorris  that 
he  was  glad  it  was  so,  as  they  could  meet  yet  in  coun- 
cil and  smooth  the  difficulties  over.  It  n(;cd  not  be  ad- 
ded that  INIr.  ^Morris  assented  lo  this  suggestion. 

Several  days  intervened  before  this  meeting  could  be 
convened.  INIeantime  Mr.  Morris  caused  all  the  chief 
women  of  the  nation  to  be  assembled,  whom  he  ad- 
dressed upon  the  subject  of  liis  mission.  He  stated  to 
them  the  offer  he  had  made  to  the  sachems,  and  dis- 
coursed eloquently  of  the  advantages  which  would  ac- 


1 


•  1 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


15-5 


crue  to  themselves  and  their  families  l)y  the  annuity 
which  would  be  coming  to  them,  and  the  comtbrts  they 
would  be  able  to  procure  during  the  nbsence  of  their 
warriors, — who  often  flocked  to  the  white  settlements  to 
sell  their  skins,  where  they  were  comfortably  fed  while 
their  families  were  starving.  He  tlien  distributed 
among  the  women  a  liberal  present  of  beads,  silver- 
brooches,  clothes,  and  a  variety  of  otlier  fancy  articles,  for 
which  their  people  have  a  great  fondness,  a ;  1  which  were 
received  with  delight.  These  articles,  Mr.  INIorris  in- 
formed them,  wore  intended  for  distriliution  only  after 
the  conclusion  of  a  successful  treatv.  Still,  as  the  wo- 
men  had  had  no  agency  in  breaking  off  the  negotiation, 
he  t^  ought  they  ought  not  to  suffer  for  the  misconduct  of 
their  sachems,  and  he  had  consequently  determined  that 
they  should  have  the  presents  he  had  intended  for  them. 
It  is  one  of  the  peculiar  features  of  Indian  polity  that 
their  lands  belong  to  the  warriors  who  defend,  and  the 
women  who  till  them,  and  who,  moreover,  are  the 
mothers  of  the  warriors.  And  although  the  sachems,  as 
civil  magistrates,  have  ordinarily  the  power  of  negotia- 
ting treaties,  yet  whenever  the  question  of  a  sale  (;f  land 
is  the  subject  of  a  negotiation,  if  both  the  warriors  and 
women  become  dissatisfied  with  the  course  the  sachems 
are  pursuing,  they  have  the  right  !o  interpose  and  take 
the  subject  out  of  their  hands.  The  politic  course  adopted 
toward  the  women  by  Mr.  Morris  worked  like  a  charm. 
In  a  few  days  after  his  meeting  with  them,  as  jusi  stated^ 
he  was  informed  that  as  the  council-fire  was  yet  ]»urn- 
ing,  the  negotiation  would  be  resumed,  not  by  the  sa- 


•    .! 


'     i 

n 
,1)  \ 


;l 
1 

1                   -    \. 

i      i 

'     ■       1  * 

i 

1 

'.it 

! 

i  ■   -1 

1                        \' 

nit 

'  If' 

;  .: 

tp 

■ 

1 

■  "\ 

'  If 

i 

m 

ii 

iSHfl 

15G  LIFE  AND  TIMKS 

chems,  out  of  whose  hands  the  business  had  been  v,k:  t, 
but  by  the  women  and  warriors,  wlio  had  thrown  llit. 
selves  upon  their  "  reserved  rights,"  and  wen;  prepared 
to  "  nulhi'y"  what  the  sachems  had  done. 

On  a  sul)sc(iuent  day  the  council  was  rc-opcncd,  and 
the  Cornphnnter,  being  ihe  princij)al  war-chief,  opened 
the  proceedings.  He  said  the  women  and  warriors  had 
seen  with  regret  the  misconduct  of  their  sachems,  and 
he  also  censured  the  conduct  of  Mr.  Morris  as  having 
been  too  hasty.  Still,  he  proposed  that  the  negotiation 
should  be  renewed,  and  lie  hoped  it  would  Ije  conducted 
with  better  temper  on  both  sides.  Mr.  Morris  made  a 
few  sooiliing  remarks,  taking  upon  himself  a  share  of 
the  blame,  and  Farmer's-Brothcr,  on  the  part  of  the 
sachems,  stated  that  these  proceedings  of  the  women 
and  warriors  were  in  perfect  accordance  with  their  cus- 
toms. The  negotiation  was  thereupon  resumed,  and 
was  prosecuted  to  a  successful  issue  without  farther 
procrastination.  The  terms  were  as  at  first  proposed, — 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars  for  the  tract,  with  such 
reservations  as  the  parties  might  be  able  to  agree  upon. 

From  the  moment  the  women  and  warriors  took  the 
negotiation  upon  themselves,  and  Cornplanter  became 
the  important  speaker,  Red-Jacket  withdrew, — no  longer 
attending  the  council,  but  remaining  drunk  until  the  pro- 
ceedings were  ended.  Yet  although  the  main  question 
of  this  treaty  had  been  decided,  dilfirulties  fresh  and 
formidable  arose  in  the  adjustment  of  the  reservations 
for  the  different  clans.  The  conse([uencc  of  a  chief  de- 
pends much  upon  the  number  of  warriors  under  his  own 


OF  RED-JACKET, 


1-57 


immediate  command.     Hence  the  different  clans,  with 
their  chiefs,  were  anxious  to  procure  as  large  rcscrvntions 
as  they  could  tor  themselves,  and  at  the  same  lime  were 
willing  to  see  the  territories  of  the  others  reduccnl  to 
comparatively  narrow  limits.      The   chief  having   the 
broadest  domains  would  naturally  have  tlic  largest  col- 
lection of  his  people  around  him.     His  own  importance 
would  be  consequently  increased,  while  the  heads  of  the 
weaker  communities  would  be  proportionately  dimin- 
ished.     These  jealousies  of  aggrandizement  were  the 
source  of  so  much  difficulty  that  the  adjustment  of  the 
reservations  could  not  be  accomplished  in  full  coimcil, 
and  in  the  end  was  only  effected  by  a  sub-council,  com- 
posed of  a  small  number  of  chiefs  selected  from  the 
several  clans.     Another  difficulty  was  encountered  in 
designating  the  boundaries  of  the  reservations.      The 
Indians  insisted  upon  natural  boundaries,  such  as  the 
rivers,  hills  and  the  courses  of  streams.     But  as  bounda- 
ries like  these,  with  which  they  were  familiar,  gave  them 
all  the  advantages,  Mr.  Morris  would  not  listen  to  the 
proposition, — insisting  upon  the  allotment  to  each  clan 
of  such  number  of  square  miles  as  might  be  agreed  upon, 
designating  the  same  upon  a  map  to  the  view  of  the 
chiefs.      In  only  one  instance  did  Mr.  Morris  depart 
from  this  determination,  and  the  result  taught  him  what 
might  have  been  his  fate  had  he  allowed  the  princi])lc  in 
other  cases.     There  was  a  white  woman  named  Mary 
Jemison,  who  occupied  a  farm  upon  die  Genesee  river, 
at  a  place  about  twenty  miles  soutliwest  of  Big  Tree, 
for  whom  the  chiefs  were  desirous  of  making  special 


' 


1'  li  »i 

I: 


!      '.I, 


■     1 


';<:  ''4 


!  Mm; 


M 


i 


158 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


provision.     Mary  was  herself  present  fit  il;o  council,  and 
pleaded   lior  own  case.     She  was  truly  a  remarkable 
woman.      When  a  child,  at  the   breaking  out  of  the 
French  war  in  1754,  she  had  been  taken  prisoner  by  the 
Indians  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fort  Du  Quesne,  with 
her  parents,  two  brothers,  and   other  inniates  of   the 
family.     All  were  murdered  except  INIary.     Her  captors 
were  Senocas,  and  she  was  brought  into  the   Genesee 
country.     For  a  season  she  was  discontented  with  her 
new  situation,  and  devised  various  schemes  of  effecting 
her  escape.     These  being  frustrated,  she  resigned  her- 
self to  her  fate,  and  in  progress  of  time  became  as  tho- 
roughly an  Indian  in  all  her  habits  and  feelings  as  Red- 
Jacket  himself.     Although  she  had  been  religiously  in- 
structed in  her  childhood,  she  became  a  pagan,  and  in  a. 
word  was  thoroughly  a  squaw  in  every  thing  but  her 
comi)lexion.     Her  life  was  one  of  vicissitude  and  wihl 
adventure.     Her  iirst  husband  was  a  Delaware  chief, 
with  whom  she  resided  for  years  in  the  Siifiwanese  coun- 
try.    tShe  a  terward  married  a  Hencca  chief,  with  whom 
she  lived  until  his  dcaUi  at  the  Gardow  Hals, — the  place 
which  the  chiefs  now  prayed  mighl  bt3  reserved  for  her. 
Mr.  Morris  readily  assenteil  that  a  moderate  reservation 
should  be  made  for  her,  provided  tlic  luunber  of  acres 
were  defmcd.     But  to  tiiis  she  objected,  staling  that  she 
had  various  improved  places,  one  of  which  was  a  patch 
of  corn,  another  of  potatoes,  another  of  beans,  \'c.     >Shc 
then  named  certain  boundaries,  to  which  Mr.  Morris,  in 
conseciuence  of  the   impatience  of  the  commissioners, 
hastily  assented,  under  the  impression  that  the  grant 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


1-59 


would  not  exceed  one  hundred  and  fifty  acre-«.  When 
afterward  the  survey  came  to  be  made,  I\Iarj''s  farm 
was  found  to  contain  thirty  thousand  acres  of  land,  of  an 
excellent  quality  !* 

There  were  yet  other  difficulties  to  be  removed  before 
the  negotiation  was  actually  completed.  Among  these 
was  the  arrival  at  the  council  of  Young  King,  a  descen- 
dant of  "Old  Smoke,"  a  notable  chief  of  the  Senecas 
many  years  before.  Old  Smoke  was  the  most  powerful, 
as  he  was  deemed  the  wisest  sachem  of  his  time.  He 
was  the  principal  sachem,  or  civil  chief  of  the  nation,  tind 
his  word  was  law.  Wlicn  he  thought  proper  to  convene 
a  council,  it  was  only  for  the  purpose  of  announcing  his 
intentions,  imd  none  said  nav  to  his  behests.  His  in- 
fallibiliiy  was  never  (jucslioned,  and  although  lie  had 
been  detid  many  years,  his  memory  was  yet  held  in  great 
reverence.  Young  King,  though  literally  a  young  nuin, 
and  of  talents  far  inferior  to  Old  Smoke,  was  nevcrlhcless, 
by  inheritance,  the  cliicf  sachem  of  th(^  Scnei';i  nation; 
and  the  usual  deference  secured  to  him  by  virtue  of  his 
office,  was  greatly  augmented  by  reverence  tor  bis  de- 
scent.    As  chief  sachem,  it  was  necessary  to  the  vahdity 


ill 


<;' 


i  ■  «' 


*  Diiritis;  tho  wiir  of  lln"  iv\  jliition,  "Tin'  Wliile  Wiiiiiiiii'-*"  Innui", — fur  tliu* 
»hc  will  ili'si;;iiati'(l,  lieciitnr  frriiuciitly  tin-  (|iuirli'iH  iif  llruiit  ami  (.'ulDiirl  .Idlin 
Butlor  when  iimkiiig  their  iiirondn  ii|ioii  tlio  frnntiors  of  the  coloiiii'n.  She  iit- 
tonJoil  ihc  treiity  of  tlio  (iprrnuri  b'liilts,  lii'ld  t>y  (icnorul  Sili'iylor  in  I77.'i.  She 
would  nut  throw  iiiiiilu  her  Iiulian  coslunio,  even  iiftor  tin'  w  liitc  ]io|iiiliitioM  hiid 
giirnfuiidoil  her  rcfjiili'ticc,  Imt  tulhrri'il  toiler  liidinn  hiiliin  and  custoiD-t  to  the 
lust.  Shu  hccuinu  rich  in  herds  nnd  Hocks,  lu  well  us  in  hindii.  Oni'  of  her 
gruiulHUM:*  wad  educated  iin  ii  physiciiin.  lie  ubtuiiiod  n  roinmiiiiion  as  surgeon 
in  tho  imvy  of  the  United  States,  iiml  died  u  few  years  ago  on  the  Mediterranean 
station.     Mary  died  about  the  year  1U'J5,  at  a  very  advunced  age. 


1 

1      ' ;  I 

1           '  '     1 

1 

i 

■ 

1 
!■ 

V. 

h  it 


»!     11 


160 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


of  the  irctity  that  it  should  receive  his  assent  and  signa- 
ture. He  was  for  a  time  utterly  opposed  to  the  side  of 
tlicir  hinds ;  and  botli  the  Cornplanter  and  Farmer's- 
BroUier  nssiu'cd  Mr.  Morris,  that  without  his  approbation 
the  worlv  wiis  all  at  an  end.  Still,  by  dint  of  great  pcr- 
su:isi(»u,  Ik;  wiis  ultimately  induced  to  sign  the  treaty.* 
Auitiher  obstacle  was  presented  by  the  instructions  of 
the  I'rcsidi.'iil,  General  Washington,  to  Colonel  Wads- 
worth,  who  was  directed  t(j  withhold  his  assent  from  any 
treaty  that  did  not  provide  for  the  investment  of  the  pur- 
chase-nioiu.'y  in  the  stock  of  the  Bank  of  the  United 
States,  ill  the  name  of  the  President  and  his  successors 
in  ollice,  ill  trust  t()r  the  Seneca  nation.  It  was;  limiid 
exceedingly  diilicult,  and  in  fact  impossible,  to  nudce  the 
Indians  understand  what  a  bank  was,  and  how  it  hap- 
pencil  that  ilicir  annual  payments  shouhl  not  always  be 
the  same.  They  had  no  conception  of  the  character  of 
bank  (Hvidends,  or  how  they  were  accumulated.  Their 
idea  seemed  to  be  that  the  bank  was  an  extensive  place 
in  I'hllaihlphia,  wliere  their  money  was  planted,  and 
that  in  some  years  tlie  ci-op  would  be  IxMlc'r  than  in 
others.  Fre(jucntly,  in  after  years,  would  they  iiKjuire 
of  Mr.  Morris  what  kind  of  a  croj)  tlujy  were  likely  to 
have  ill  a  season  like;  dial.  Connected  with  this  subject 
of  linance,  yet  mioUier  diflieully  was  experienced  I'rom 

*  Yniiii;;  Kiiii;  ilii'd  only  Hnmo  five  or  »ix  yours  iifjo.  He  wih  ongofii'd  «itli 
Ilia  warriiif'  in  .illittiir.u  witli  the  I'mrtM  (if  tlio  Ciiitud  Statos,  ituriiig  tlio  wiir  willi 
Knglmiii  of  ll!l'^ — l!)l.'),  iiiul  fmiglit  l)invcly.  lly  nil  uft  v(  Cunnrcss  of  181(»,  it 
jH'iisinii  of  Iwo  liuiidnii  dollars  jicr  iiiinum  won  j;ivt'ii  him,  "  ns  a  i-miipiMisnlion 
for  liM  briivi'  mid  nioriluridUii  survinos,  mid  a*  u  [iroviitiuii  for  the  wuuiid  uiiJ  dlHO* 
bility  which  ho  rccuivcd  ill  thu  pcrfurmuiico  uf  tlioiu  lervicoi." 


1 

( 

s 

I 

s| 

! 

OF  RED-JACKKT. 


161 


1  ' 


their  inability  to  comprehend  the  amount  of  the  purcliase- 
moncy.  But  lew  of  tliem  could  count  one  hundred, 
while  it  was  necessary  to  make  them  comprehend  the 
amount  of  one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  process 
by  which  only  tliis  idea  could  be  imparted,  was  to  tid<e 
a  cask,  and  show  them  how  many  dollars  it  woukl  re- 
quire to  lill  it,  imd  then  show  them  how  many  casks  oi 
the  same  description  it  would  re(juire  to  contain  tlie 
whole  amount.  Tliev  were  also  taudit  the  number  of 
horses  it  would  recjuire  to  tlraw  the  weight.* 

It  has  been  remarked  that  after  the  negotiatiou  had 
been  resumed  by  ihc  women  and  warriors,  and  Corn- 
plantcr  took  the  lorum,  Red-Jacket  absented  himself 
from  the  council,  anil  remained  in  a  state  of  int(jxication. 
His  object  iu  thus  standing  aloof  from  the  council  was  to 
have  the  entire  responsibility  oi'  the  treaty  thrown  upon 
Cornplanler.  In  his  conversations  with  the  other  chiefs 
he  uniformly  s[)oke  against  any  sale  of  their  lands,  and 
he  opposed  the  treaty  with  great  vehemence,  elo([uence 
and  talent.  Yet  his  opposition  was  that  of  a  demagogue, 
and  he  spoke,  to  use  ;in  expressive  metaphor  of  his  own 
people,  with  "a  forked  tongue."  In  other  v^-ords  iiis 
opposili./i.  was  insincere  ;  for  the  fact  is  no  less  fi '.  thiin 


*  Till!  IiuliiiiiH  of  owry  Iriho  am  rigidly  rquitiihle  in  llic  i.i  i,  '..miiii  i,f  llio 
avJiild  (if  nil  till- IiukIs  they  sell.  Kvi-ry  momhiMof  n  fninily  rvc  ,  tin  Miiiill.«t. 
chilli,  is  iMilitli'il  to,  mid  receives,  us  inucli  us  the  hif,'hi!*t  '  f.  Wiieii  the  di- 
visiuii  \i  iiiudo,  llie  (iilher  nf  tin-  fiiinily  |iiiiduces  ns  muuy  i^li'  ii*  ii  •  lliei.'  ure  j'ef- 
8nn»  in  hiti  hiiii!tehi)l(l.  Ulaiiketi)  are  sjirciid  upnii  the  groiiiul,  and  jiietuM  of  coin 
nni  liiid  by  the  side  of  encli  parcel  of  sticks,  coiTegpoiidiiig  with  the  iiunilHT,  un- 
til till-  whole  uinnunl  of  the  money  received  is  fairly  dividv'il  Al  least  such  was 
tlii^piiiciice  Inliiretliu  chiel'i  uf  the  IndiuiiM  leurnud  ihu  art  of  beiii|{  bribed  truia 
the  palu-iiiccs. 

91 


»  15 


K    1 


I! 

t 

•  ;' 

i       ■! 

1  i 

162 


LIFE  AND  TIMKS 


(lisgracelul,  that  after  the  negotiation  had  been  com- 
pleted, he  repaired  to  the  lodge  ot  Mr.  jNIorris  l)y  night ,  and 
told  him  that  he  had  in  reality  no  objection  to  tlio  sale  of 
their  lands,  but  yet  he  must  seem  to  oppose  tlie  measure,  or 
he  should  lose  liis  j^opularity.  That  popularit}'  h;id  been 
acquired  ])y  opposing  every  land-sale  that  had  been 
made,  anil  he  must  at  least  affect  to  continue  his  oppo- 
sition to  the  end.  It  has  been  seen  that  the  negotiation 
was  successi'uh  How  could  it  liave  well  been  other- 
wise, under  tlie  circumstances,  wIk^u,  to  tiiose  circum- 
stances, ah'cady  described,  is  superadded  llic"  fact  that 
the  very  leader  of  tho  opposition  was  a  traitor  to  djo 
cause  he  pretended  to  defi'ud  r  IJut,  as  in  olhcr  popular 
communities,  the  people  were  the  dupes.  Tlie  arts  of 
the  demagogue  blinded  their  eyes  to  the  sturdy  honesty 
of  Farmer's-Brother,  and  the  at  least  comparative  in- 
tegrity of  tlic  Cornplanter,  while  dieir  treacherous  Ihit- 
tcrer  became  their  idol.  In  order  to  manifest  his  appa- 
rent opposition  to  the  treaty,  he  refused  in  council,  after 
the  decision  had  been  made,  to  sign  it;  and  yet,  before 
any  signature  liad  i)ccn  made  to  the  document,  he  ar- 
ranged with  Mr.  Morris  to  have  a  blank  left  for  the  in- 
sertiou  nf  his  name  afterward, — desiring  that  the  space 
migiit  be  high  up.  among  the  first,  that  wlien  General 
Washington  saw  the  treaty  he  might  know  that  Sa-go- 
yc-wat-ha  was  yet  a  man  of  consccjuencc  among  tlie 
chiefs  of  his  people.*  It  has  been  related  of  this  extra- 
ordinary dissembler,  that  at  the  treaty  of  Canandaigua, 

•  I  Imve  dcnvod  tlio  farts  of  this  cntiro  history  of  llm  tn'ntv  of  ni;^Trce,  from 
the  nmiiU!i(:ri[)t»  of  I'iiuinus  Murrii,  oiid  from  cun^orsatiuim  witli  liiiii. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


1G3 


during  one  of  his  speeches,  he  observed  Colonel  Picker- 
ing to  be  writing,  as  though  taking  notes  ot'wlint  he  was 
saying.  He  stopped,  and  drawing  himpelt'  up,  ex- 
claimed widi  energetic  dignity: — "Look  up  tVoni  the 
table,  brother,  ajd  fix  your  ej'cs  upon  my  eyes, — that 
you  may  sec  that  ivhat  Sa-go-yc-wat-ha  says  is  the  truth,  and 
no  licP^*  Doubtless  he  would  have  enacted  the  ])art 
ovei  again  with  Thomas  Morris,  at  die  liig  Tree,  had 
there  been  occasion  Tor  such  a  theatrical  display. 

It  was  probably  about  the  time  of  this  year  that  Red- 
Jacket  made  his  visit  to  Hartford,  in  the  state  of  Con- 
necticut, at  the  head  of  a  small  deputation  of  die  chiefs 
of  his  nation.     In  the  several  land-compromises  between 
some  of  th(;  states,  Connecticut  had  actpiired  tlie  pre- 
cm[)tive  title  to  the  section  of  the  present  state  of  Ohio, 
called  New-Connecticut.      This    territory  was  at    that 
time  in  the  hands  of  a  large;  associ.-itiou  of  ciipilalists 
called  die  Connecticut  Land  C<tmp;uiy,  ;iiid  various  ne- 
gotiations were  held  for  die  extinguislunent ol'du;  Indinn 
title, — the  kSix  Nations  claiming  the  territory  by  right  of 
conciuest.     It  was  in  connection  with  this  m.itter  that 
Red-Jacket  and  his  associates  visited  Hart  turd,  where  a 
coimcil  was  holden  in  the  statc-hoUi-;c.     TIk;  documents 
connec!'  d  widi  this  council  seem  to  iiave  bec^n  lost;  l>ut 
tradition  preserves  a  lively  remembrance  of  ihc  visit  of 
the   Indians,  and  of  a  great  speech   delivered  by  Red- 
Jacket.     An  eminent  member  of  the  Coiuieeticut  bar, 
afterward  distingiiishcd  in  the  national  councils  of  the 
United  kStates,t  himself  a  meud^er  of  the  land  company, 

•  O'Reilly's  Hi»tory  of  RrK-liMti-r. 

t  Ciidcno  Granger,  I'ott  Mutter  Ucncral  during  tlicaUiiiiiiislriitiuntof  Presiilents 


Ik 


,1   i 


)'!■ 


164 


LIFE  AND  TIMF.S,  &c. 


was  wont  in  after  years  to  speak  with  great  cntlmsiasm 
of  tiiO  appearance  of  Red-Jacket  on  that  occasion,  and 
of  the  speech  which  he  dehvered.  "  Willi  a  step  mea- 
sured, linn  and  dignified,"  as  he  was  used  to  rehite, — 
*'  a  countenance  erect,  hold  and  discursive,  he  entered 
the  vast  assemblage  without  manilesting  surprise,  fear 
or  curiosity."  Of  the  speech  he  then  delivered,  the  fol- 
lowing passage  was  preserved  in  the  memory  of  lur. 
Granger : — 

"  Wc  stand  a  small  island  in  the  lio.som  of  the  great  waters. 
Wo  arc  encircled, — wc  arc  encompassed.  The  evil  spiriL 
rides  upon  the  blast,  and  the  waters  are  disturbed.  Tliey  rise, 
they  press  upon  us,  and  tlie  waves  oiu^c  settled  over  us,  we 
disappear  forever.  VV^lio  then  lives  to  niouni  us  ?  None. 
What  marks  our  extermination  ?  Nothing.  Wo  are  mingled 
with  the  common  elements."* 

The  history  of  this  mission  of  the  orator  is  necessarily 
very  imperfect.  Brant,  wlio  took  an  active  interest  in 
the  negotiations  respecting  the  Sandusky  country,  was 
highly  displeased  with  the  course  of  Kcil-.TackeL  at 
Hartford,  and  spoke  of  it  with  nitterness  in  a  letter  to 
the  Duke  of  Norduimberland.  Among  other  things  he 
states  that  Red-Jacket  vowed  fidelity  to  the  Unitf^l 
States,  and  .sealed  his  promise  by  kissing  the  likeness  of 
Genera]  Wa>liington. 

Jpfforsnn  niid  Mndisoii,  anil   aftcrwnrd  in  tho  senate  <if  New-York.     He  ilicd  at 
Cannndnii^im  in  1822,  ngwl  5.'^  \"ars. 

*  MS.  collections  of  J.  W.        niton.     [Thi'  author  lina  inquircil  diligently  at 
Hartford  for  tho  records  of  til'    -outicil,  but  without    '.     .-as.] 


■"!. ' 


i      i 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Conspiracy  of  rurnpliimi' against  Ilcd-.Inckct — Witchcraft— Coriii)lantcr  dc- 
fenli'il  by  Rctl-Jackut's  florjucncc — Farthor  outrages  upon  tlic  Indians — Mis- 
sion of  Hod-Jacket  and  others  to  the  scat  of  Government — Sjieucli  of  Red- 
Jacket  to  liie  Secretary  of  War — Murder  of  a  white  man  by  an  Indian — Me('t- 
ing  in  consniuencc  at  Canandaigua — Specdi  of  Ked-Jacket — liis  conspiracy 
against  Brant — Deposition  of  tlio  latter — His  uhimate  triumph  and  restoration. 

A  MORE  interesting  incident,  and  of  yet  higher  impor- 
tance as  connected  with  the  life,  conduct,  and  sul)S(3- 
quent  destiny  of  Red-Jacket,  is  now  approached  in  chro- 
nological order.  The  unpo})uhirity  of  the  hnive  old 
Cornplanter,  for  the  part  he  had  tal\en  at  several  treaties 
for  the  preservntion  of  peace  with  the  United  States, 
even  at  the  expense  of  parting  with  large  districts  of  the 
Indiiin  t(  ritory,  h;is  repeatedly  been  sjxjken  of  in  the 
progress  of  tlie  present  memoir.  That  unpopuliirity  was 
increased  by  each  successive  sale,  until  the  chief  dis- 
covered the  unwelcome  truth  that  he  had  lost  almost  the 
entire  contidence  of  his  peo[)le.  Nor  is  it  inilikcly  that 
the  cnafty  orator  of  the  ••  forked  tongue"  was  actively 
concerned  in  fomenting  the  jealousies  which  l(>*t  him  the 
popular  favor.  Indeed  such  is  believed  to  have  been 
the  fact,  which  C(»rnphmter  himself  was  tiK)  sacacioiis 
not  to  understand.  At  all  events,  in  ord(T,  a»  is  sup- 
posed, to   recover  his    former    influence,  die  warrior, 


Ml 

\l'    t' 


S  i 


I    i 


1  ', 


166 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


ill! 


knowing  the  credulity  of  his  people,  availed  himself  of 
tliat  characteristic,  and  concerted  a  plot  by  which  he  de- 
signed to  compass  the  destruction  of  his  enemies,  Red- 
Jacket  in  particular.  It  was  by  playing  upon  the  popular 
credulity  that  Ucd-Jacket  had  arrived  at  the  dignity  of 
a  sachem ;  and  the  war-chief  may  possibly  have  rea- 
soned that  as  a  victim  of  intrigue,  injustice  and  ingrati- 
tude, he  had  a  right  to  avail  himself  of  the  same  means, 
for  his  own  restoration  to  pul)lic  favor,  if  not  to  compass 
the  overthrow  of  his  rival.  Having  determined  upon 
his  course,  "  he  persuaded  his  brother  to  announce  him- 
self as  a  prophet,  or  messenger  from  heaven,  sent  to  re- 
deem the  fallen  fortunes  of  his  race.  Tlie  superstition 
of  the  savages  cherished  the  impostor;  and  he  acquired 
such  an  ascendancy  as  to  prevail  upon  the  Onondagas, 
formerly  the  most  drunken  and  profligate  of  the  Six  Na- 
tions, to  abstain  entirely  from  spirituous  liquors,  and  to 
observe  the  laws  of  morality  in  other  respects.  He  ob- 
tained the  same  ascendancy  among  the  confederates, 
that  another  impostor,  the  brother  of  the  celebrated  Te- 
cumseh,  subsequently  acquired  among  the  Shawanese 
and  other  western  Indians;  and,  like  him,  he  also  em- 
ployed his  influence  for  evil  as  well  as  for  good  purpo- 
ses. The  Indians  universally  ])elieve  in  witchcraft ; 
Cornplanter's  brother,  in  his  character  of  prophet,  incul- 
cated this  superstition,  and  proceeded,  through  the  in- 
strumentality of  conjurors  selected  by  himself,  to  desig- 
nate the  offending  familiars  of  Satan,  who  were  accord- 
ingly sentenced  to  death.  And  the  unha[)py  objects 
would  have  been  actually  executed,  if  the  magistrates  of 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


167 


Oneida,  and  the  officers  of  the  garrison  of  Ningara,  had 
not  interfered.     The  prosecutions  of  Cornplantcr  had 
proceeded  so  far  that  it  began  to  ]:)C  considered  an  art- 
ful expedient  to  render  his  enemies  the  objects  of  general 
abhorrence,  if  not  the  victims  of  an  ignominious  death. 
Emboldened   by  his  success,  the    prophet    proceeded 
finally  to  execute  the  views  of  his  brother,  and  Red- 
Jacket  was  publicly  denounced  at  a  great  council  held 
at  Buffalo  Creek,  and  was  put  upon  his  trial.     At  this 
Ciisis  he  well  knew  that  the  future  course  of  his  hfe  de- 
pended upon  the  powers  of  his  mind.     He  spoke  in  his 
defence  nearly  three  hours.     The  iron  brow  of  supersti- 
tion relented  under  tlie  magic  of  his  eloquence  ;  he  de- 
clared the  prophet  an  impostor  and  a  cheat ;   he  pre- 
vailed ;  the  Indians  divided,  and  a  small  majority  ap- 
peared in  his  favor."     "  Perhaps,"  it  is  added  by  the 
distinguished  writer  who  has  furnished  the  account  of 
this  great  and  singular  trial,*  "  Perhaps  the  annals  of 
history  cannot  furnish  a  more  conspicuous  instance  of 
the  triumph  and  power  of  oratory  in  a  barbarous  nation 
devoted  to  superstition,  and  looking  up  to  the  accuser  as 
a  delegated  minister  of  the  Almighty."     And  yet  it  will 
appear  in  the  sequel  that  the  same  orator  who  triumphed 
thus  over  the  believers  in  witchcraft,  was  a  believer 
himself,  or  an  affected  believer,  in  the  same  supcrsULiou, 
and  caused  the  execution  of  at  least  one  victim,  as  a 
sacrifice  to  the  delusion. 

Red-Jacket's    success  in  this  case  inflicted   a  blow 
upon  the  influence  of  Cornplantcr,  from  the  effects  of 

*  Clinton's  Discourse  before  the  Now-York  liiatorical  Society. 


i<\ 


'M 


w. 


;•;«:  1 


i 


il 

;,.» 

'    1 

1 

:■ « 

M 

•'  I'-'i 

, . . 

i".  1  -'.B 

'         1        !•)  &i 

-i  i' 

' 

» 

.     jVeiKiJJ 

i'-    ^ 

m 

1;,* 


168 


LIFK  AND  TIMES 


which  he  never  entirely  recovered,  although  he  lived 
t()r  more  tlinn  a  lliird  ol'  a  century  afterward.  Tin  >e 
hitter  years  of  his  extended  life  were  chietly  passed  ;it 
his  own  village,  on  the  margin  of  the  Alleghany  r;v<  r,  a 
short  distance  witliout  the  confines  of  the  state  of  IS'cw- 
York,  and  within  those  of  Pennsylvania.  He  retained 
his  friendsiiip  for  the  people  of  the  United  States  with 
unswerving  fidelity ;  and  espousing  the  Christian  r  'igion, 
he  labored  zealously  thenceforward  to  bring  the  .vl'e- 
ghany  clan  of  the  fc^enccas,  amnng  whom  he  resided,  mto 
a  state  of  civilization.*  Hi  visited  Washington  in  the 
winter  ol'  1 801, — 1S02,  for  the  purpose  of  conferring  with 
President  Jefferson  upon  this  and  other  subjects  connec- 
ted with  the  improvement  of  his  people,  and  was  in  cor- 
respondence with  Mr.  Jefferson  in  relation  to  it,  during 
the  year  lollowing.  His  efforts  were  particularly  di- 
rected against  the  use  of  ardent  spirits,  the  thirst  for 
which  h;is  ever  Ijoen  the  bane  of  the  Indians,  and  a 
beautiful  autograph  letter  from  Mr.  Jefferson  to  the  chief 
's  yet  extnnt.t  Pennsylvania  had  given  him  a  reservation 
of  nine  hiindrea  acres  of  choice  land,  upon  which  he  bc- 

*  The  iinmp  m"  Cornplanter's  brother,  the  J'r()i)hot,  was  Ga-iiio-di-culi.  Ho 
begun  his  l'il.or<  in  the  cause  of  leni|ier:iiieo  in  the  Allegliiiiiy  canton.  lie  re- 
moved thence^  li)  the  Timnewandii  reservation,  and  tlicnce  to  Onondaga.  Alter 
Red-Jacket  bocanio  thoroughly  pagan  in  his  policy,  Ga-iiio-di-euh,  who  was  never 
n  f'hrirtlian,  attai'l'i''  liinisi-lfto  th(!  party  of  the  orator  against  \m  brother,  f'orn- 
planter,  at  one  time,  became  a  religious  zealot,  and  was  in  ii  state  of  excitement 
bordering  upon  hallucination.  During  that  season  ho  too  was  favored  with 
virions  and  revelations. — Statement  of  a  chief  of  the  Alleghany  clan,  to  the 
Author. 

t  In  the  autliur'a  possession,  vido  sketch  of  Curnplantcr,  toward  the  close  uf 
tliu  volume. 


ii 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


169 


came  an  agriculturist  to  a  considerable  extent,  and  re- 
sided thereon  till  the  day  of  his  death.* 

A  succession  of  outrages  upon  the  Indians  residing 
along  the  Pennsylvania  border,  resulting  at  difl'ereat 
times  in  the  murder  of  several  of  their  people,  induced 
the  Senecas  and  Tuscaroras  in  February,  1801,  to  send  a 
deputation  of  chiefs  to  the  seat  of  the  federal  government, 
which  since  the  last  Seneca  embassage  had  been  trans- 
ferred from  Philadelphia  to  the  city  !"  Washington. 
Red-Jacket  was  at  the  head  of  thi  'eputation,  which 
was  received  formally,  with  an  appn  te  speech,  by 
the  acting  Secretary  at  War,  Samuel  Jjcxter,  on  the  10th 
of  February.  On  the  11th  Red-Jacket  replied,  setting 
forth  tlie  business  of  his  mission  in  the  following  speech : — 

"  Brother  : — We  yesterday  received  your  speccli,  which 
removed  all  uneasiness  from  our  minds.  We  then  tohl  you 
that  should  it  please  the  (Jrcat  S])int  to  permit  us  to  rise  in 
health  this  day,  you  should  hear  what  we  have  come  to  say. 

"  BnoTiiEK : — The  business  on  which  we  arc  now  come,  is 
to  restore  the  fiicndsliip  that  has  existed  between  the  United 
States  and  the  Six  Nations,  agreeably  to  the  direction  of  the 
commisbioner  from  the  fifteen  fires  of  the  United  States.  He 
assured  us  that  whensoever,  by  any  grievances,  the  chain  of 
friendship  should  become  rusty,  we  might  have  it  brightened 
by  calling  on  you.  VV^e  dis2)ense  with  the  usual  foniiality  of 
having  your  speech  again  read,  as  we  fully  comprehended  it 
yesterday,  and  it  would  therefore  be  useless  to  waste  time  in 
a  repetition  of  it. 

"  Brother  : — Yesterday  you  wiped  the  tears  from  our  eyes, 
that  wo  might  see  clearly  ;  you  unstopped  our  ears  that  we 

*  Thn  Indian  name  of  Cornplanter  was  Gy-an-txea-ha,  or  "  Handsome  Lake," 
Ho  diod  ou  tho  7th  of  March,  183G,  aged  upward  uf  uno  hundred  years. 

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LIFE  AND  TIMES 


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and  removed  the  obstructions  from  ov 
that  we  might  speak  distinctly.  You  offered  to  join  with  us 
in  tearing  up  the  largest  pine  tree  in  our  forests,  and  under  it 
to  bury  the  tomahawk.  We  gladly  join  with  you,  brother,  in 
this  work,  and  let  us  heap  rocks  and  stones  on  the  root  of  this 
tree,  that  the  tomahawk  may  never  again  be  found. 

"  Bkother  : — Your  apology  for  not  having  wampum  is  suffi- 
cient, and  we  agiee  to  accept  of  your  speeches  on  paper,  to 
evince  our  sincerity  in  wishing  the  tomahawk  forever  buried. 
We  accompany  a  repetition  of  our  assurances  with  these  strings. 
[Strings  of  wampum.] 

"  Brother  : — We  always  desire,  on  similar  melancholy 
occasions,  to  go  through  our  customary  forms  of  condolence, 
and  have  been  happy  to  find  the  officers  of  the  government  of 
the  United  States  willing  in  this  manner  to  make  our  minds 
easy. 

"  Brother  : — We  obsers^e  that  the  men  now  in  ofllice  are 
new  men,  and,  we  fear,  not  fully  informed  of  all  that  has  be- 
fallen us.  In  1791  a  treaty  was  held  by  the  commissioners  of 
Congress  with  us  at  Tioga  Point,  on  a  similar  occasion.  We 
have  lost  seven  of  our  warriors,  murdered  in  cold  blood  by 
white  men,  since  the  conclusion  of  the  wai*.  We  are  tired  of 
this  mighty  grievance,  and  wish  some  general  arrangement  to 
prevent  it  in  future.  The  first  of  these  was  murdered  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio,  near  Fort  Pitt.  Shortly  after,  two  men,  be- 
longing to  our  first  families,  were  murdered  at  Pine  Creek ; 
then  one  at  Fort  Franklin  ;  another  at  Tioga  Point ;  and  now 
the  two  that  occasion  this  visit,  on  the  Big  Beaver.  These 
last  two  had  families.  The  one  was  a  Seneca ;  the  other  a 
Tuscarora.  Their  families  are  now  destitute  of  support ;  and 
we  think  that  the  United  States  should  do  something  toward 
their  support,  as  it  is  to  the  United  States  they  owe  the  loss  of 
their  heads. 

"Brother: — These  offences  arc  always  committed  in  one 
place  on  the  frontier  of  Pennsylvania.  In  the  Genesee  country 
we  live  happy,  and  no  one  molests  us.  I  must  therefore  beg 
that  the  President  will  exert  all  his  influence  with  all  officers, 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


171 


civil  and  military,  in  that  quarter,  to  remedy  this  grievance, 
and  trust  that  he  will  thus  prevent  a  repetition  of  it,  and  save 
our  blood  from  being  spilled  in  future.     [A  Bclf.] 

"  Brothkr  : — Let  me  call  to  mind  the  treaty  between  the 
United  States  and  the  Six  Nations,  concluded  at  Canandaigua. 
At  that  treaty  Col.  Pickering,  who  was  commissioner  on  be- 
half of  the  United  States,  agreed  that  the  United  States  should 
pay  to  the  Six  Nations  four  thousand  five  hundred  dollars  2)er 
annum,  and  that  this  should  pass  through  the  hands  of  the  su- 
perintendent of  the  United  States,  to  be  appointed  for  that 
purpose.  This  treaty  was  made  in  the  name  of  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  who  was  then  General  Washington;  and 
as  he  is  now  no  more,  perhaps  the  present  President  would 
wish  to  renew  the  treaty.  But  if  he  should  think  the  old  one 
valid,  and  is  willing  to  let  it  remain  in  force,  we  are  also  wil- 
ling. The  sum  above  mentioned  we  wish  to  have  part  of 
in  money,  to  expend  in  more  agricultural  tools,  and  in  pur- 
chasing a  team,  as  we  have  some  horses  that  will  do  for  the 
purpose.  We  also  wish  to  build  a  saw  mill  on  the  Buffalo 
Creek.  If  the  President,  however,  thinks  proper  to  have  it 
continue  as  heretofore,  we  shall  not  be  very  uneasy.  What- 
ever he  may  do  wo  agree  to ;  wo  only  suggest  this  for  his  con- 
sideration.    [A  Belt.] 

"  Brother  : — I  hand  you  the  above  mentioned  treaty,  made 
by  Col.  Pickering  in  the  name  of  Gen.  Washington,  and  the 
belt  that  accompanied  it ;  aa  he  is  now  doaJ,  we  know  not  if 
it  is  still  valid.  If  not,  we  wish  it  renewed — if  it  is,  we  wish 
it  copied  on  clean  parchment.  Our  money  got  loose  in  our 
trunk  and  tore  it.  We  also  show  you  the  bolt  whidi  is  the 
path  of  peace  between  our  Six  Nations  and  tlie  IJ^nitod  States. 
[  Ticotii  and  two  Belts.] 

"  Brother  : — A  request  was  forwarded  by  us  from  the  Onon- 
daga nation  to  the  governor  of  New- York,  that  he  should 
appoint  a  commissioner  to  hold  a  treaty  with  them.  Tiiey 
have  a  reservation  surrounded  by  white  men  wliicli  tliey  wish 
to  sell.     The  Cayugas,  also,  have  a  rcsorvution  so  surrounded 


ill: 


M  ti 


172 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


that  they  have  been  forced  to  leave  it,  antl  they  hope  that  the 
President's  commissioner,  whom  they  exjiect  he  will  not  hesi- 
tate to  appoint,  will  be  instructed  to  attend  to  this  business. 
We  also  have  some  business  with  New- York,  which  we  would 
wish  him  to  attend  to. 

"  Brother  : — The  business  that  has  caused  this  our  long 
journey  was  occasioned  by  some  of  your  bad  men :  the  ex- 
pense of  it  has  been  heavy  on  us.  We  bog  that  as  so  great  a 
breacli  has  been  made  on  your  part,  the  President  will  judge 
it  proper  that  the  United  States  should  bear  our  expenses  to 
and  from  home,  and  whilst  here. 

"  Brother  : — Three  horses  belonging  to  the  Tuscarora  na- 
tion were  killed  by  some  men  under  the  command  of  Major 
Rivardi,  on  tlie  plains  of  Niagara.  They  have  made  appli- 
cation to  the  superintendent  and  to  Major  R.,  but  get  no  re- 
dress. You  make  us  pay  for  our  breaches  of  the  peace,  why 
should  you  not  pay  also  1  A  white  man  has  told  us  the  horses 
were  killed  by  Major  R.'s  orders,  who  said  they  should  not  be 
permitted  to  come  there,  although  it  was  an  open  common  on 
which  they  were  killed.  Mr.  Chapin  has  the  papers  respecting 
these  horses,  which  we  request  you  to  take  into  consideration." 

Mr.  Dexter  answered  the  deputatiou  on  the  IGtli,  and 
in  the  name  of  the  President,  (the  elder  Adams,)  pro- 
mised a  thorough  investigation  into  the  circumstances  of 
the  murders  complained  of,  a  compliance  with  their 
wishes  touching  an  exchange  of  certain  lands,  and  pay- 
ment for  the  horses  killed  at  Niagara.  The  expenses  of 
their  mission  were  also  directed  to  be  paid. 

In  the  year  following,  a  white  man  named  John 
Hewitt  was  murdered  at  Buffiilo  Creek  by  a  drunken  In- 
dian, and  his  surrender  demanded  by  the  civil  authorities 
of  the  stp'  This  demand  was  resisted  by  the  Indians, 
and  no  .      .1  degree  of  excitement  among  them  was  the 


:*  1, 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


173 


consequence.  In  their  own  rude  jurisprudence,  the  fnct 
of  drunkenness  on  the  part  of  the  offender,  when  the 
deed  was  perpetrated,  could  be  pleaded  in  extenuation 
of  the  crime ;  whereas  by  the  laws  of  the  white  men, 
such  a  plea  would  be  held  only  as  an  aggravation  of  the 
offence.  Tlie  Indians,  moreover,  insisted  that  they  were 
an  independent  nation,  and  as  such  had  a  right  to  the 
entire  jurisdiction  of  the  case.  Or  if  not,  as  they  did  not 
exactly  understand  the  divided  and  nicely  balanced 
relations  existing  between  the  United  States  and  the 
state  governments  respectively,  they  supposed  they 
could  appe;d  to  their  Great  Father  the  President.  Buf- 
falo was  at  that  period  within  the  county  of  Ontario, 
Canandaigua  being  the  scat  of  justice.  At  length,  after 
several  meetings  between  the  Indians  and  the  citizens, 
in  which  the  latter  had  vainly  attempted  to  persuade  the 
former  to  surrender  the  culprit,  a  council  of  the  principal 
chiefs  of  the  Senecas,  Cayugas  and  Onondagas,  was 
convened  at  Canandaigua,  to  give  the  question  a  more 
solemn  consideration.  A  conference  having  been  ar- 
ranged betwen  the  council  and  the  principal  inhabitants, 
Red-Jacket,  arguing  against  the  surrender  upon  ihe 
principles  already  indicated,  delivered  the  following 
speech,  addressed  particularly  to  the  while  portion  oi 
his  audience : — * 

"  Brothers  : — Oppn  your  cars,  and  give  your  attontlon. 
This  clay  is  ajipointcd  by  the  Great  Spirit  to  meet  our  friends 

*  For  a  coi)y  of  this  speech  the  outhor  la  indebted  to  Jnmos  D.  Bcmi?,  Fsq., 
(for  thirty  years  the  editor  of  a  newspaper  in  Canandaigua,)  by  whom  it  was  first 
pubhshcd. 


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174 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


at  this  place.  During  the  many  years  that  we  have  lived  to- 
gether in  this  country,  good  will  and  harmony  have  subsisted 
among  us. 

"  liuoTMERs  : — We  have  now  come  forward  on  an  unhappy 
occasion.  We  cannot  find  words  to  exjiress  our  feelings  upon 
it.  One  of  our  people  has  murdered  one  of  your  people.  So 
it  has  been  ordered  by  the  Great  Spirit,  who  controls  all 
events.  This  has  been  done :  we  cannot  now  help  it.  At 
first  view  it  would  seem  to  have  the  effect  of  putting  an  end  to 
our  fricndsliip ;  but  let  us  reflect,  and  put  our  minds  together. 
Can't  we  point  out  measures  whereby  our  peace  and  harmony 
may  still  be  preserved?  We  have  come  forward  to  this  place, 
where  we  have  always  had  a  superintendent  and  friend  to  re- 
ceive us,  and  to  make  known  to  him  such  grievances  as  lay 
tipon  our  minds  ;  but  now  we  have  none  ;  and  we  have  no  guar- 
dian,— no  protector, — no  one  is  now  authorized  to  receive  us. 

"  J3rothers  : — We  therefore  now  call  upon  you  to  take  our 
speech  in  writing,  and  forward  our  ideas  to  the  President  of 
the  United  States. 

"  [Brothers  : — Let  us  look  back  to  our  former  situation. 
While  you  were  under  the  government  of  Great  Britain,  Sir 
William  Johnson  was  our  superintendent,  apjiointed  by  the 
king.  He  had  power  to  settle  offences  of  this  kind  among  all 
the  Indian  nations,  without  adverting  to  the  laws.  But  under 
the  British  government  you  were  uneasy, — you  wanted  to 
change  it  for  a  better.  General  Washington  went  forward  as 
your  leader.  From  his  exertions  you  gained  your  indepen- 
dence. Immediately  afterward  a  treaty  was  made  between 
the  United  States  and  the  Six  Nations,  whereby  a  method  was 
pointed  out  of  redressing  such  an  accident  as  the  present. 
Several  such  accidents  did  happen,  where  we  were  the  suf- 
ferers. We  now  crave  the  same  privilege  in  making  restitu- 
tion to  you,  that  you  adopted  toward  us  in  a  similar  situation. 

"  Brothi'.rs  : — At  the  close  of  our  treaty  at  Philadelphia, 
General  Washington  told  us  that  we  had  formed  a  chain  of 
friendship  which  was  bright:  he  hoped  it  would  continue  so 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


175 


on  our  part :  that  the  United  States  would  be  equally  willhig 
to  brighten  it,  if  rusted  by  any  means.  A  number  of  murders 
have  been  committed  on  our  people — we  shall  only  mention 
the  last  of  them.  About  two  years  ago,  a  few  of  our  warriors 
were  amusing  themselves  in  the  woods,  to  the  westward  of 
Fort  Pitt;  two  white  meii  coolly  and  deliberately  took  their 
rifles,  travelled  nearly  three  miles  to  our  encampment,  fired 
upon  the  Indians,  killed  two  men  and  wounded  two  children. 
We  then  were  the  party  injured.  What  did  we  do  1  We  flew 
to  the  treaty,  and  thereby  obtained  redress,  perfectly  satis- 
factory to  us,  and  we  liojio  agreeable  to  you.  This  was  done 
a  short  time  before  President  Adams  went  out  of  oftice  :  com- 
plete peace  and  harmony  was  restored.  We  now  want  the 
same  method  of  redress  to  be  pursued. 

"  Brothers  : — How  did  the  present  accident  take  place  ? 
Did  our  warriors  go  from  home  cool  and  sober,  and  commit 
murder  on  you  1  No.  Our  brother  was  in  li(iuor,  and  a  quar- 
rel ensued,  in  which  the  unhappy  accident  happened.  We 
would  not  excuse  him  on  account  of  his  being  in  lirpior ;  but 
such  a  thing  was  far  from  his  intention  in  his  sober  moments. 
We  are  all  extremely  grieved  'at  it,  and  are  willing  to  come 
forward  and  have  it  settled,  as  crimes  of  the  same  nature  have 
heretofore  been. 

"  Brothers  : — Since  this  accident  has  taken  place,  we  have 
been  informed  that  by  the  laws  of  this  state,  if  a  murder  is 
committed  within  it,  the  murderer  must  be  tried  by  the  laws 
of  the  state,  and  punished  with  death. 

"  Brothers  : — When  were  such  laws  explained  to  us  ?  Did 
we  ever  make  a  treaty  with  the  state  of  New- York,  and  agree 
to  conform  to  its  laws  1  No.  We  are  independent  of  the  state 
of  New- York.  It  was  the  will  of  the  Great  Spirit  to  create  us 
different  in  color :  we  have  different  laws,  habits  and  customs, 
from  the  white  people.  We  shall  never  consent  that  tlie 
government  of  this  state  shall  try  our  brother.  We  apfieal  to 
the  government  of  the  United  States. 

"  Brothers  : — Under  the  customs  and  habits  of  our  fore- 


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176 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


fathers  wo  were  a  happy  people ;  we  had  laws  of  our  own ; 
they  were  dear  to  us.  The  wliites  came  among  us  and  intro- 
duced their  customs  ;  they  introduced  liciuor  among  us,  which 
our  forefathers  always  told  us  would  prove  our  ruin. 

"  Brothers  : — In  consequence  of  the  introduction  of  liquor 
among  us,  numbers  of  our  people  were  killed.  A  council  was 
held  to  consider  of  a  remedy,  at  which  it  was  agreed  by  us 
that  no  private  revenge  should  take  place  for  any  such  mur- 
der— that  it  was  decreed  by  the  Great  Spirit,  and  that  a  coun- 
cil should  be  called  to  consider  of  redress  to  the  friends  of  the 
deceased. 

"  Brothers  : — The  President  of  the  United  States  is  called 
a  groat  man,  possessing  great  power.  Ho  may  do  what  he 
pleases, — he  may  turn  men  out  of  office, — men  who  held  their 
offices  long  before  he  held  his.  If  he  can  do  these  things,  can 
he  not  even  control  the  ki,ws  of  this  state  ?  Can  ho  not  appoint 
a  commissioner  to  come  forward  to  our  country  and  settle  the 
present  difference,  as  we,  on  our  part,  have  heretofore  often 
done  to  him,  upon  a  similar  occasion  1 

"  We  now  call  upon  you,  Brothers,  to  represent  these 
things  to  the  President,  and  we  trust  that  he  will  not  refuse 
our  request  of  sending  a  commissioner  to  us,  witli  j^owers  to 
settle  the  present  difference.  The  consequence  of  a  refusal 
may  be  serious.  We  are  determined  that  our  brother  shall 
not  be  tried  by  the  laws  of  the  state  of  New- York.  Their 
laws  make  no  difference  between  a  crime  committed  in  liquor, 
and  one  committed  coolly  and  deliberately.  Our  laws  are  dif- 
ferent, as  we  have  before  stated.  If  tried  here,  our  brother 
must  be  hanged.  We  cannot  submit  to  that ; — has  a  murder 
been  committed  upon  our  people,  when  was  it  punished  with 
death  ? 

"  i^ROTHERS  : — We  have  now  finished  what  wc  had  to  say 
on  the  subject  of  the  murder.  We  wish  to  address  you  upon 
another,  and  to  have  our  ideas  communicated  to  the  President 
upon  it  also. 

"  Brothers  : — It  was  understood  at  the  treaty  concluded 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


177 


f 


by  Col.  Pickering,  that  our  superintendent  should  reside  in  the 
town  of  Canandaigua,  and  for  very  good  reasons  :  that  situation 
is  the  most  central  to  the  Six  Nations ;  and  by  subsequent 
treaties  between  the  state  of  New- York  and  the  Indians, 
there  are  still  stronger  rensons  why  he  should  reside  here, 
principally  on  account  of  the  annuities  being  stipulated  to  be 
paid  to  our  superintendent  at  this  place.  These  treaties  are 
sacred.  If  their  superintendent  resides  elsewhere,  the  state 
may  object  to  sending  their  money  to  him  at  a  greater  distance. 
We  would  therefore  wish  our  superintendent  to  reside  here  at 
all  events. 

"  BiioTiiERS  : — With  regard  to  the  appointment  of  our  pre- 
sent superintendent,  we  look  upon  ourselves  as  much  neglected 
and  injured.  When  General  Chapin  and  Captain  Chapin 
were  appointed,  our  wishes  were  consulted  upon  the  occasion, 
and  we  most  cordially  agreed  to  the  appointments.  Captain 
Chapin  has  been  turned  out,  however,  within  these  few  days. 
We  do  not  understand  that  any  neglect  of  duty  has  been  al- 
leged against  him.  We  are  told  it  is  because  he  differs  from 
the  President  in  his  sentiments  on  government  matters.  He 
has  also  been  perfectly  satisfactory  to  us  ;  and  had  we  known 
of  the  intention,  we  should  most  cordially  have  united  in  a  pe- 
tition to  the  President  to  continue  him  in  office.  We  feel  our- 
selves injured, — we  have  nobody  to  look  to, — nobody  to  listen 
to  our  complaints, — none  to  reconcile  any  differences  among 
us.     We  are  like  a  young  family  without  a  father.* 

"  Brothers  : — We  understand  that  the  President  has  ap- 
pointed a  superintendent  who  is  altog-  "^iior  unknown  to  us,  and 
who  is  unacquainted  with  Indian  afta.iS.  We  know  him  not 
in  our  country.  Had  we  been  consulted  upon  the  subject,  we 
might  have  named  some  one  residing  in  this  country,  who  was 
well  known  to  us.     Perhaps  we  might  have  agreed  upon  Mr. 


;  •til] 


■«>  ' 


!?l  .''.. 


I  ':  ' 


*  Captain  Chapin  was  removed  by  President  Jefferson,  as  liero  stated.  Shortly 
afterward  he  wrote  to  his  friend  Brant,  the  Mohawk  chief,  announcing  the  fact, 
and  received  a  reply  from  the  latter,  which,  for  the  intelligence  it  evinces,  and  its 
philosophy,  deserves  preservation.    See  Appendix,  D. 

23 


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J 


!'   !■ 


178 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


Oliver  Phelps,  whose  politics,  coinciding  with  those  of  the 
President,  might  have  recommended  him  to  the  office. 

"  Brothf.iis  : — We  cannot  conclude  without  again  urging 
you  to  make  known  all  these  our  sentiments  to  the  President. 

But  the  eloquent  pleadings  of  the  Indians  were  una- 
vailing. They  were  compelled  to  surrender  the  offender 
to  the  inexorable  law  of  the  white  man,  though  it  was 
done  with  great  reluctance.  His  name  was  Stiff-armcd- 
Gcorgc.  He  was  tried  and  convicted  at  the  Oyer  and 
Terminer  of  Ontario  county,  on  the  23d  of  February, 
1803, — Brockholst  Livingston,  one  of  the  justices  of 
the  Supreme  Court,  presiding ;  but  as  the  murder  was 
without  pre-existing  malice,  and  was  moreover  attended 
by  various  mitigating  circuinstances,  the  court,  the  at- 
torney-general, the  grand  jury  that  indicted  him,  to- 
gether with  many  of  the  people  of  Canandaigua,  united 
in  a  petition  to  the  Governor,  George  Clinton,  for  his 
pardon.  Judge  Livingston,  in  a  letter  to  the  Governor 
upon  the  subject,  after  stating  the  case,  and  referring  to 
the  interpositions  of  the  people  in  his  behalf,  observed  : — 

"It  is  not  for  me  to  urge  considerations  of  policy  in  favor 
of  a  pardon ;  if  any  exist  they  will  occur,  and  be  properly  ap- 
preciated by  those  with  whom  this  prerogative  resides.  It 
may  not,  however,  be  impertinent  to  mention  that  the  convict 
is  well  connected  ;  is  much  beloved  by  his  countrymen,  and 
that  his  situation  has  excited  an  uncommon  interest  and  solici- 
tude in  the  sachems  and  warriors  of  his  nation ;  several  of 
them  attended  the  trial,  and  behaved  with  great  decorum. 
Red-Jacket,  one  of  their  sachems,  addressed  the  jury  at  some 
length ;  he  dwelt  on  the  hardship  of  making  an  unlettered 
savage  amenable  to  laws,  of  which,  from  his  habits  and  want 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


179 


of  education,  he  must  ever  remain  ignorant.  He  complained 
of"  the  impunity  with  which  white  men  had,  in  various  instan- 
ces, committed  murders  on  the  Indians,  and  particukuly  of  the 
outrages  to  which  those  in  the  neighhorhood  of  Buffalo  ('reck 
were  constantly  exposed.  He  also  insisted  that  in  this  all'ray 
our  citizens  were  the  aggressors.  It  is  proper  to  add  that 
.ludge  Hosmer,  Judge  Atwater,  and  the  Attorney-General, 
concur  with  me  in  recommending  the  Indian  as  a  fit  object  of 


mercy 


"* 


The  subject  was  presented  to  the  consideration  of  the 
legislature  by  a  special  message  from  the  Governor,  and 
Stiff-armed-George  was  not  executed. 

The  next  act  in  the  public  life  of  Red-Jacket  presents 
him  in  the  character  of  a  conspirator.  Flushed  with  his 
victory  over  Cornplanter,  the  principal  war  chief  of  his 
own  nation,  the  orator  meditated  an  insidious  blow  at 
a  higher  object,  and  sought  to  gratify  his  hate  by  crush- 
ing the  military  chieftain  of  the  whole  confederacy, — tlie 
renowned  Thayendancgca  himself.  Between  Brant  and 
Red-Jacket  no  friendship  had  existed  since  the  exhibi- 
tions of  cowardice  and  treachery  by  the  latter,  during 
Sullivan's  invasion  of  the  Indian  country,  in  1779,  as 
heretofore  related.  They  had  frequently  met  in  councils, 
for  the  transaction  of  the  business  appertaining  to  their 
government,  and  the  internal  relations  of  their  own  peo- 
ple, as  also  in  their  negotiations  with  the  United  States. 
But  the  lion-hearted  Mohawk  despised  him  in  his  heart, 
and  could  never  meet  him  witli  cordiality,  talking  no 
pains  to  conceal  his  feelings.t 

*  Sec  .louinals  of  the  New-Yoik  Legislature  for  1803. 

t  The  appHcalion  to  Ked-Jackct,  by  Brant,  of  the  insulting  soubriquet  "  Ths 


MS 


I    1 


t  ■;  ,  ■  I 


•w'lt' 


'  \ 


'4 

'    :   -Mil 


!r! 


r.^^ 


:•  .1' 


-If, 


1 1 


U:\ 


It-    ' 
1  i  1 1 


Sip 


il 


ll 


i: 


y      -f 


i 


^^:( 


I 


180 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


Brant,  it  must  be  borne  in  mind,  was  a  resident  in 
Canada,  whither  he  had  led  his  jNIohnwks  after  the  disas- 
trous termination  of  the  war  of  the  revolution.  But  the 
fact  of  his  residence,  and  that  of  his  own  particular  na- 
tion, within  the  jurisdiction  of  another  government,  did 
not  dissolve  the  confederacy,  or  change  its  unwritten  con- 
stitution. Brant  had  indeed  offered  to  receive  the  whole 
Six  Nations  in  his  newly  acquired  territory  upon  Grand 
River,  and  many  from  each  of  the  nations  joined  him 
there.  Still,  a  large  majority  of  all  the  Nations,  excepting 
the  Mohawks,  preferred  remaining  in  their  "  old  seats," 
in  their  own  beautiful  country  of  western  New- York. 
But  the  league  was  not  affected,  and  Thayendanegea 
remained  the  war  captain  of  the  whole. 

At  the  time  now  under  consideration.  Brant  was  in- 
volved in  harassing  perplexities  with  the  officers  of  the 
British  Colonial  Government.  The  Grand  River  territory 
had  been  granted  to  him  as  a  place  of  retreat  for  the 
Mohawks,  by  Sir  Frederick  Haldemand,  in  the  name 
and  under  the  authority  of  the  crown,  in  fee  simple. 
But  as  years  elapsed,  and  the  lands  in  that  region  were 
continually  rising  in  value,  by  reason  of  the  tide  of  emi- 
gration that  no  ,v  began  to  roll  against  and  around  them, 
the  colonial  authorities  chose  not  so  to  understand  the 

Cow-KiLLER,"  has  been  noted  in  the  second  cliapter  of  the  present  work,  to- 
gether with  the  reason  therefor.  The  name,  moreover,  must  have  obtained  some 
currency.  Among  the  manuscripts  of  General  Chapin  are  the  proceedings  of  one 
of  the  Seneca  councils,  in  which  The  Cow-Killer  is  three  times  reported  as  ha- 
ving spoken  at  as  many  different  stages  of  the  proceedings.  But  in  each  of  these 
places  the  words  Cow-Killer  were  crossed  by  a  stroke  of  the  pen,  and  "  Red- 
Jacket"  inserted. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


181 


grant.     They  held  that  Sir  Frederick  had  only  conveyed 
to  die  Indians  the  right  of  occupancy,  and  that  the  right 
of  prc-en:iption  was  still  vested  in  the  crown.     Bnuit  re- 
sisted this  construction  to  the  utmost  of  his  power,  rind 
appeals  were  carried  up  to  the  parent  government  for 
justice.      The    ministers    uniformly   favored    the    con- 
struction claimed  by  the  Indians,  but  the  colonial  autho- 
rities as  uniformly  contrived  to  circumvent  their  inten- 
tions ;  so  that  to  this  day  the  Mohawks  have  been  ex- 
cluded from  the  full  enjoyment  of  their  undoubted  right 
to  the  soil  in  question.     These  disputes,  and  the  exertions 
of  Brant  in  behalf  of  his  people,  involved  him  in  a  series 
of  troubles  that  continued  until  his  death.     Having  at- 
tempted to  lease  portions  of  the  lands  to  white  settlers, 
the  colonial  authorities,  and  the  officers  of  the  British 
Indian  Department,  interposed,  and  caused  him  much 
difficult}^     Disaffection  was  also  stirred  up  against  him, 
even  among  the  Mohawks,  by  designing  white  men ; 
and  a  plot  for  his  deposition  and   degradation    from 
office  was  matured,  and  attempted  to  be  carried  into 
execution.     In  order  to  this,  the  Senecas,  and  odiers  of 
the  Six  Nations,  were  induced  to  claim  a  right  to  interfere 
in  the  disposition  of  the  Grand  River  lands,  and  also  in 
the  domestic  relations  of  the  Mohawks, — a  right  with 
wliich  the  laws  and  usages  of  the  confederacy  did  not 
invest  them.     Brant  was  likewise  charged  with  pecu- 
lation, in  the  management  of  the  revenues  of  his  peo- 
ple,— a  charge  which  he  triumphantly  repelled.     But  no 
matter:  It  served  the  purpose  of  Brant's  white  oppo- 
nents in  Canada,  who  were  eager  to  destroy  him,  and 


tri 


I 

f'tifi  *;i 


I. 

1 '  ^ 

182 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


the  arcli-dcmagogue  Red-Jaukct  became  a  ready  instru- 
ment in  their  liands.     In  furtherance  of  this  design,  a 
council  was  privately  convened  at  Buffalo  Creek,  early 
in  the  year  1S05,  under  the  direction  of  Red-Jacket  him- 
self, and  a  few  other  Seneca  chiefs  in  his  immediate  in- 
terest, or  subject  to  liis  influence.     Neither  chiefs  nor 
sachems  of  the  Moliawks  had  knowledge  of  this  council, 
although  a  pretended  representation  of  ihat  nation  was 
present,  selected  merely  for  the  sake  of  form,  from  the 
discontents,  and  the  personal  enemies  of  Brant,  who 
were  the  lowest  of  the  people.     The  result  of  this  coun- 
cil, clrmdestinely  called  and  illegally  constituted,  was 
the  formal  deposition  of  Brant  from  office,  and  also  the 
removal  from  office  of  all  the  Mohawk  chiefs  and  sa- 
chems who  were  his  friends.     There  was  yet  another  mo- 
tive for  the  instigation  of  this  measure  of  proscriplive 
violence  by  the  Canadians,  who,  with  Red-Jacket,  were 
at  the  bottom  of  the  conspiracy.     The  celebrated  Norton, 
a  Mohawk  chief,  and  the  confidential  friend  of  Brant, 
was  then  in  England,  charged  by  the  latter  with  a  mis- 
sion to  the  parent  government,  connected  willi  the  long 
pending  controversy  respecting  the  title  to  their  lands. 
Information  had  been  received  that  the  application  was 
likely  to  be  crowned  with  success ;  and  those  who  were 
hostile  to  the  claim  of  the  Indians  sought  to  defeat  the 
measure  of  justice  by  prostrating  their  noblest  champion 
and  most  distinguished  friend.     Willi  this  view,  having 
effected  his  removal,  a  paper  was  drawn  up  for  trans- 
mission to  the  parent  government,  disavowing  the  mis- 
sion of  Norton,  and  all  the  claims  and  proceedings  of 


•H 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


1S3 


Brant.  And  to  complete  the  plot,  the  proceedings  were 
signed  by  the  common  Indians  who  had  been  convened 
for  the  occasion,  in  the  character  of  chiefs, — each  of  them 
being  promised  a  commission  from  the  English  govern- 
ment, for  their  participation  in  the  fraud.* 

But  tlie  triumph  of  the  orator  over  the  proud  INIohawk 
was  of  short  duration.  Although  all  tlic  charges  that 
had  been  brought  against  the  latter  at  this  illegal  council 
had  been  fully  investigated  and  refuted  but  a  few  months 
before,  yet  the  veteran  chief  was  not  disposed  to  sit  in 
silence  under  the  renewal  of  them,  or  to  acquiesce  in 
his  own  ostracism.  Convening  a  full  council  of  the  Mo- 
hawks, including  his  enemies  who  had  taken  a  seat  in 
the  Buffalo  council  against  him,  he  made  a  defence  which 
overwhelmed  his  enemies.  Shortly  afterward  a  full 
council  of  the  confederacy  was  summoned,  at  which, 
after  mature  deliberation,  the  proceedings  of  the  spurious 
council  were  revoked,  and  the  chief  was  restored  to  hi? 
rank  by  acclamation. 

*  Letter  of  Brant  to  the  Duke  of  Northumberland.     Life  of  Brant,  vol.  ii.  p. 
419. 


'       ■! 


i'    t 


♦'    i;l| 


a 


4 


M 


,i  i 

ill 


CHAPTER  Vm. 


i. 


m 


Paganism  of  Red-Jacket — Failure  of  plans  for  Indian  civilization — Hostility  of 
Rc(l-J:icki'l  to  Christianity — Mission  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cram— Council  to  meet 
him — Speech  of  Mr.  Cram — Rod-Jacket's  speech  in  reply — Rejection  of  the 
missionary — Errors  of  missionaries — Difficulty  of  making;  tliemsclves  under- 
stood— Another  attempt  to  purchase  the  remaining  lands  of  the  Senecas — 
Speech  of  Red-Jacket  to  Mr.  Richardson — Causes  of  their  hostility  to  the 
missionaries — Another  speech  of  Red-Jacket — Drunkenness  among  the  In- 
dians— Tradition  of  their  first  taste  of  the  fire-waters — Reflections. 

The  life  and  conduct  of  Red-Jacket  arc  now  to  be 
contemplated  in  a  different  aspect.  It  lias  been  seen 
that  at  an  earlier  period  of  his  career  by  twelve  or  thir- 
teen 5'cars,  he  was  at  Philadelphia,  listening  with  appa- 
rent approbation  to  the  counsels  of  Washington  for  the 
civilization  of  his  people,  and  concerting  measures  with 
Colonel  Pickering  to  that  end.  It  may  indeed  be 
doubted  whether  he  was  altogether  sincere  at  that  time  ; 
for  such  was  the  habitual  deceitfulness  of  his  character, 
thnt  his  professions  were  at  all  times  but  an  uncertain 
index  to  the  resolves  of  his  mind.  But  it  is  of  little  im- 
portance whether  he  was  sincere  at  the  time  referred  to, 
or  not, — nothing  is  more  certain  than  that  if  he  was  not 
a  dissembler  then,  an  entire  revolution  must  have  been 
wrought  in  his  views  previous  to  the  year  1805,  at  which 
time,  even  if  it  had  ever  been  otherwise,  he  had  become 
thoroughly  pagan.     From  that  year  forward,  had  it  been 


not 
•vn 


!en 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


185 


in  his  power,  he  would  have  entirely  cut  off  from  his 
people  all  knowledge  of  the  Christian  religion,  and  all 
communication  with  the  Anglo-Saxon  race.  His  lan- 
guage now  was,  that  the  Great  Spirit  had  formed  the 
red  and  white  men  distinct, — that  there  was  no  more 
reason  why  the  two  races  should  profess  the  same  re- 
ligious creed,  than  that  they  should  be  of  the  same  color. 
The  Indians,  he  held,  could  not  be  civilized ;  and  he 
had  now  become  anxious  not  only  to  resist  all  farther 
innovations  upon  their  manners,  but  that  their  ancient 
customs  should  be  restored.* 

It  is  not  unlikely  that  the  ill  success  attending  the  ex- 
periments made  under  the  auspices  of  Washington  and 
Pickering,  aided  by  the  persevering  efforts  of  the  Quakers, 
might  have  induced  the  orator  to  abandon  the  project  of 
civilization  in  dcspiiir.t  And  not  widiout  show  of  reason, 
since  the  fact  is  equally  indisputable  and  lamentable, 
that  from  the  day  on  which  the  Pilgrims  landed  upon 
Plymouth  Rock  to  the  present,  the  intercourse  between 

*  MS.  Collections  of  Joseph  W.  Moullon,  E?q. 

t  The  care  with  which  the  Fiieiulrt  watched  over  the  interests  of  the  Six  Nation! 
on  various  occasions,  particularly  at  the  treaty  of  Cunandaigua,  has  been  repeat- 
edly mentioned  in  iho  foiei^oiiin;  pii!;es.  But  their  efforts  did  not  end  here.  In 
1796  several  fiiniilios  of  Friends  were  located  iipuii  the  Oneida  reservation,  to 
teach  the  Jndians  the  art  of  husbandry,  and  some  of  the  indispensable  mechanic 
arts.  Their  women,  also,  it  was  sought  to  teach  the  skill  of  household  dutiot, 
spinning,  sewing,  knitting,  &,s.  In  1798,  the  Senecas,  whc  had  observed  the 
improvement  of  the  Oneidas,  iiniuested  the  Friends  to  aid  them  in  the  samo 
way,  and  three  families  accordingly  planted  themselves  down  in  the  canton 
of  the  Alleghany.  Their  presence,  their  instruction,  and  their  example,  were 
of  great  benefit  to  that  canton,  nllliough  thu  ])rogreHS  of  Indian  improvement 
has  been  slow.  The  late  Thomas  Eddy,  of  Ncw-Yurk,  devoted  himself  actively 
to  tills  cause  fur  duvcral  years. 

24 


1     !'^ 


:.  ) 


!'^  I 


'■  ■     ■ 


I     :        ,1 

;    :  ,   ft 


u 


m 


■I' 


186 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


li 


t 


the  Indians  and  the  white  people  has  resulted  in  litde 
more  than  the  acquisition  by  the  former  of  the  vices  of 
the  latter.  Red-Jacket  had  seen  this  result,  and  he 
doubtless  mourned  over  it.  He  had  seen  his  people 
melting  away  before  the  pale-faces,  with  a  rapidity 
foreboding  their  early  extinction.  He  had  learned  the 
failure  of  every  antecedent  effort  to  convert  them,  as  a 
people,  to  Christianity ;  and  he  had  seen  that  every  at- 
tempt thus  far  made  to  introduce  even  the  primary  arts 
and  customs  of  civilization  among  them,  had  been  equally 
abortive.  Ho  had  therefore  become  utterly  averse  to 
any  farther  intercourse  or  association  with  the  whites, — 
having  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  the  only  means  of 
preserving  his  race,  even  for  a  few  brief  lustres,  would 
be  the  erection  of  a  wall  of  separation,  strong  and  high, 
between  them.  Thenceforward  he  ever  acted  rigidly 
upon  that  principle.  He  was  opposed  to  any  farther 
sales  of  their  lands.  He  was  opposed  to  blending  the 
races  by  intermarriage, — not  unfrequently  murmuring, 
that  whereas  before  tlie  approach  of  the  white  men  the 
eyes  of  their  children  were  all  black,  now  they  were  be- 
coming blue.  He  was  opposed  to  the  introduction  of 
the  arts  of  civilized  life.  He  was  opposed  to  the  acqui- 
sition by  his  people  of  the  English  language.  Above 
all,  he  was  opposed  to  the  introduction  among  them  of 
Christianity.  Nor  indeed,  speaking  after  the  manner  of 
men,  was  he  greatly  blameable  for  liis  hostility  to  this 
new  religion,  judging,  as  both  he  and  his  people  in  their 
simplicity  naturally  would  do,  of  the  character  of  that 
religion  from  such  of  its  fruits  as  were  most  perceptible 


of 
er  of 
this 
heir 
that 
tible 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


187 


to  them.  The  irregular  and  reckless  border-men,  pres- 
sing them  closely  upon  all  sides,  and  setting  every  bad 
example  possible  before  them,  called  themselves  Chris- 
tians. Those  who  were  continually  persuading  the  In- 
dians to  drunkenness,  in  order  to  cheat  or  plunder  them 
before  they  were  sober,  were  called  Christians.  And 
the  rapacious  land-jobbers,  who  were  seeking  every  op- 
portunity of  stripping  them  of  their  territory,  and  who 
were  held  in  special  abhorrence  b  Red- Jacket  and  the 
more  considerate  of  the  chiefs,  were  likewise  known  to 
the  Indians  as  Christians.  The  orator  had  pondered  all 
these  things ;  and  being  unable  to  discriminate  between 
the  nominal  and  the  real  Christian, — or  rather  not  under- 
standing enough  of  the  nature  of  Christianity  to  know 
that  it  was  a  religion  of  the  heart,  and  that,  no  matter 
by  what  names  they  were  called,  those  only  were  Chris- 
tians who  endeavored  to  live  up  to  its  principles, — he 
could  perceive  nothing  good  in  the  system.  So  far  as 
he  could  judge  from  such  lights,  and  such  examples,  he 
saw  nothing  better  in  Christianity  than  in  his  own  pagan- 
ism. Hence  the  tone  of  the  speech  now  to  be  intro- 
duced, which  has  been  regarded  as  the  ablest  and  most 
ingenious  of  his  rude  forensic  efforts. 

The  occasion  was  this:  In  the  summer  of  1S05,  a 
young  missionary  named  Cram  was  sent  into  the  coun- 
try of  the  Six  Nations  by  the  Evangelical  Missionary  So- 
ciety of  Massachusetts.  His  design  was  to  plant  a  mis- 
sionary station  among  the  Senecas,  and  a  council  of  their 
chiefs  was  convoked  at  Buffalo  Creek  to  hear  his  propo- 
sitions.    The  agent  of  the  United  States  for  Indian  af- 


i'  ,M 


,1: 


t! 


(I 


I  ,  :y 


188 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


iiil'i 


!        !i   1 


..r' 


fairs  attended  the  council,  and  the  government  interpre- 
ter was  also  present.  The  proceedings  were  opened  by 
the  agent,  who  thus  introduced  the  missionary : — 

"  BROTHEns  OF  THE  Six  NATIONS :  I  rejoicG  to  meet  you 
at  this  time,  and  ihank  the  Great  Sjiirit  that  he  has  preserved 
you  in  health,  and  given  me  another  opportunity  of  taking  you 
by  the  hand. 

•'  Brothers  :  The  person  who  sits  by  me  is  a  friend  who 
has  come  a  great  distance  to  hold  a  talk  with  you.  He  will 
inform  you  what  his  business  is,  and  it  is  my  request  that  you 
would  listen  with  attention  to  his  words." 

The  missionary  thereupon  opened  his  business  in  the 
following  terms  : — 


li  l!  I 


i'l 


"  ]\Iv  Friends  :  I  am  thankfi  i  for  the  opportunity  afforded 
us  of  uniting  together  at  this  time.  I  had  a  great  desire  to 
see  you,  and  inquire  into  your  state  and  welfare.  For  this 
purpose  I  have  travelled  a  great  distance,  being  sent  by  your 
old  friends,  the  Boston  Missionary  Society.  You  will  recol- 
lect they  formei'ly  sent  missionaries  among  you,  to  instruct 
you  in  religion,  and  labor  for  your  good.  Although  they  have 
not  heard  from  you  for  a  long  time,  yet  they  have  not  forgot- 
ten their  brothers,  the  Six  Nations,  and  are  still  anxious  to  do 
you  good. 

"  Brothers  :  I  have  not  come  to  get  your  lands  or  your 
money,  but  to  enlighten  your  minds,  and  to  instinict  you  how 
to  worship  the  Great  Sjjirit  agreeably  to  his  mind  and  will, 
and  to  jireach  to  you  the  gospel  of  his  son  Jesus  Christ. 
There  is  but  one  religion,  and  but  one  way  to  serve  God,  and 
if  you  do  not  embrace  the  right  way  you  cannot  be  happy 
hereafter.  You  have  never  worshipped  the  Great  Spirit  in  a 
manner  acceptable  to  hira ;  but  have  all  your  lives  been  in 
great  errors  and  darkness.     To  endeavor  to  remove  these 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


189 


errors,  and  open  your  eyes,  so  that  you  might  see  clearly,  is 
my  business  with  you. 

"  ]Jrothers  :  I  wish  to  talk  with  you  as  one  friend  talks  with 
another ;  and  if  you  have  any  objections  to  receive  the  religion 
which  I  preach,  I  wish  you  to  state  them ;  and  I  will  endeavor 
to  satisfy  your  minds  and  remove  the  objections. 

"  Brotiieus  :  I  want  you  to  speak  your  minds  freely  :  for  I 
wish  to  reason  with  you  on  the  subjecv,  and,  if  possible,  re- 
move all  doubts,  if  there  be  any  on  your  minds.  The  subject 
is  an  imjiortant  one,  and  it  is  of  consequence  that  you  give 
it  an  early  attention  while  the  offer  is  made  you.  Your  friends 
the  Boston  Missionary  Society  will  continue  to  send  you  good 
and  faithful  ministers,  to  instruct  and  strengthen  you  in  reli- 
gion, if,  on  your  part,  you  are  willing  to  receive  them. 

"  Brothers  :  Since  I  have  been  in  this  part  of  the  country, 
I  have  visited  some  of  your  small  villages,  and  talked  with 
your  people.  They  appear  willing  to  receive  instruction,  but 
as  they  look  up  to  you  as  their  older  brothers  in  council,  they 
want  first  to  know  your  opinion  on  the  subject.  You  have 
now  heard  what  I  have  io  propose  at  present.  I  hope  you 
will  take  it  into  consideration,  and  give  me  an  answer  before 
we  part." 

After  about  two  hours  consultation  among  themselves, 
Red-Jacket  rose  and  spoke  as  follows : — 

"  Friend  and  Brother  :  It  was  the  will  of  the  Great 
Spirit  that  we  should  meet  together  this  day.  He  orders  all 
things,  and  has  given  us  a  fine  day  for  our  Council.  He  has 
taken  liis  garment  from  before  the  sun,  and  caused  it  to  shine 
with  brightness  upon  us.  Our  eyes  are  opened,  that  wc  see 
clearly ;  our  cars  are  unstopped,  that  we  have  been  able  to 
hear  distinctly  the  words  you  have  spoken.  For  all  these 
favors  we  thank  the  Great  Spirit ;  and  Him  only. 

"  Brother  :     This  council  fire  was  kindled  by  you.      It 


i'l 


■  I 


,t 


'■; 


)    . 


'■|i:i 


I      i 


,!  I! 


190 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


I  "I 


3 


1 


%i 


'fr 


was  at  your  request  that  wc  came  together  at  this  time. 
We  have  listened  with  attention  to  what  you  have  said.  You 
requested  us  to  speak  our  minds  freely.  This  gives  us  great 
joy ;  for  wc  now  consider  that  we  stand  upright  before  you, 
and  can  speak  what  we  think.  All  have  heard  your  voice, 
and  all  speak  to  you  now  as  one  man.  Our  minus  are 
agreed. 

"  Brother  :  You  say  you  want  an  answer  to  your  talk  be- 
fore you  leave  this  place.  It  is  right  you  should  have  one, 
as  you  are  a  great  distance  from  home,  and  we  do  not  wish 
to  detain  you.  But  we  will  first  look  back  a  little,  and  tell 
you  what  our  fathers  have  told  us,  and  what  we  have  heard 
from  the  white  jieople. 

"  Brother  :  Listen  to  what  we  say.  There  was  a  time 
when  our  forefathers  owned  this  crreat  island.  Their  seats  ex- 
tended  from  the  rising  to  the  sotting  sun.  Tiie  Great  Spii'it 
had  made  it  for  the  use  of  Indians.  He  had  created  the  buf- 
falo, the  deer,  and  other  animals  for  food.  He  had  made  the 
bear  and  the  beaver.  Their  skins  served  us  for  clothing. 
He  had  scattered  them  over  the  country,  and  taught  us  how 
to  take  them.  He  had  caused  the  earth  to  produce  corn  for 
bread.  All  this  He  had  done  for  Irs  led  children,  because 
He  loved  them.  If  we  had  some  d',  ,».i,js  about  our  hunting 
ground,  they  were  generally  settled  without  the  shedding  of 
much  blood.  But  an  evil  day  came  ujion  us.  Your  fore- 
fathers crossed  the  great  water  and  landed  on  this  island. 
Their  numbers  were  small.  They  found  friends  and  not 
enemies.  They  told  us  they  had  fled  from  their  own  country 
for  fear  of  wicked  men,  and  had  come  here  to  enjoy  their  re- 
ligion. They  asked  fjr  a  small  scat.  We  took  pity  on  them, 
granted  their  request ;  and  they  sat  down  amongst  us.  We 
gave  them  corn  and  meat ;  they  gave  us  poison*  in  return. 

"  The  white  people.  Brother,  had  now  found  our  country. 
Tidings  were  canied  back,  and  more  came  amongst  us.     Yet 

"  Rum. 


1   •  ■llA 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


191 


of 


we  did  not  fear  them.  We  took  them  to  be  friends.  They 
called  us  brothers.  We  believed  them  and  gave  them  a 
larger  seat.  At  length  their  numbers  had  greatly  increased. 
They  wanted  more  land ;  they  wanted  our  country.  Our 
eyes  were  opened,  and  our  minds  became  uneasy.  Wars 
took  place.  Indians  were  hired  to  fight  against  Indians,  and 
many  of  our  peojile  were  destroyed.  They  also  brought 
strong  liquor  amongst  us.  It  was  strong  and  2)owerful,  and 
has  slain  thousands. 

"  Brother  :  Our  seats  were  once  large  and  yours  were 
small.  i''ou  have  now  become  a  great  people,  and  we  have 
scarcely  a  place  left  to  spread  our  blankets.  You  have  got 
our  country,  but  are  not  satisfied  ;  you  want  to  force  your  re- 
ligion upon  us. 

"  Brother  :  Continue  to  listen.  You  say  that  you  are  sent 
to  instruct  us  how  to  worship  the  Great  Spirit  agreeably  to 
his  mind,  and,  if  we  do  not  take  hold  of  the  religion  which 
you  white  people  teach,  we  shall  be  unhappy  hereafter.  You 
say  that  you  are  right  and  we  are  lost.  How  do  we  know 
this  Lo  be  true  1  AVe  understand  that  your  religion  is  writ- 
ten in  a  book.  If  it  was  intended  for  us  as  well  as  you,  why 
has  not  the  Great  Spirit  given  to  us,  and  not  only  to  us,  but 
why  did  he  not  give  to  our  forefathers,  the  knowl odge  of  that 
book,  with  the  means  of  understanding  it  rightly  {  V  o  only 
know  what  you  tell  us  about  it.  How  shall  we  know  when  to 
believe,  being  so  often  deceived  by  the  white  people  1 

"  Brother  :  You  say  there  is  but  one  way  to  worship  and 
serve  the  Great  Spirit.  If  there  is  but  one  religion,  why  do 
you  white  people  differ  so  much  about  it  1  Why  not  all 
agreed,  as  you  can  all  read  the  book  ] 

"  Brother  :  We  do  not  understand  these  things.  We  are 
told  that  your  religion  was  given  to  your  forefathers,  and  has 
been  handed  down  from  father  to  son.  We  also  have  a  reli- 
gion, which  was  given  to  our  forefathers,  and  has  been  handed 
down  to  us  their  children.  We  worship  in  that  way.  It 
teaches  us  to  be  thankful  for  all  the  favors  we  receive  j  to 


li 


•Ml 


I 


!:'  il 


t.  i:: 


t  i 


r   i; 


!    ■■II 


I,    .  ,r 


i  4 

Hi 


. 


iril 


i 

i     ■ 
1 

} 

1  '    :ii 

i 

1' 

I 

J 

192 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


love  each  other,  and  to  be  united.    We  never  quarrel  about 
religion. 

"  Brother  :  The  Great  Spirit  has  made  us  all,  but  He  has 
made  a  great  difference  between  his  white  and  red  children. 
He  has  given  us  diflcrent  complexions  and  dift'ei'ont  customs. 
To  you  He  has  given  the  arts.  To  these  He  has  not  opened 
our  eyes.  We  know  these  things  to  be  true.  Since  He  has 
made  so  great  a  difference  between  us  in  other  things,  why 
may  we  not  conclude  that  he  has  given  us  a  different  religion 
according  to  our  understanding  1  The  Great  Spirit  does 
right.  He  knows  what  is  best  for  his  children  ;  we  are 
satisfied. 

"  Brother  :  We  do  not  wish  to  destroy  your  religion,  or 
take  it  from  you.     We  only  want  to  enjoy  our  own. 

"  Brother  :  You  say  you  have  not  come  to  get  our  land  or 
our  money,  but  to  enlighten  our  minds.  I  will  now  tell  you 
that  I  have  been  at  your  meetings,  and  saw  you  collect  money 
from  the  meeting.  I  cannot  tell  what  this  money  was  in- 
tended for,  but  suppose  that  it  was  for  your  minister,  and  if 
we  should  conform  to  your  way  of  thinking,  perhaps  you  may 
want  some  from  us.* 

"  Brother  :  We  are  told  that  you  have  been  preaching  to 
the  white  people  in  this  place.  These  people  are  our  neigh- 
bors. We  are  acquainted  with  them.  We  will  wait  a  little 
while,  and  see  what  effect  your  preaching  has  upon  tliem.  If 
we  find  it  does  them  good,  makes  them  honest  and  less  dis- 
posed to  cheat  Indians,  we  will  then  consider  again  of  what 
you  have  said. 

"  Brother  :  You  have  now  heard  our  answer  to  your  talk, 
and  this  is  all  we  have  to  say  at  present.  As  we  are  going  to 
part,  we  will  come  and  take  you  by  the  hand,  and  hope  the 

*  This  paragraph  is  not  contained  in  the  first  edition  of  the  speech,  as  pi  b- 
lished  by  James  D.  Bemis,  in  1811;  but  I  find  it  in  the  speech  as  given  by 
Drake,  in  his  Book  of  the  Indians,  and  also  in  Thatcher's  Indian  Biography. 
Still,  it  appears  to  me  to  be  an  interpolation. 


;l         'i 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


193 


Great  Spirit  will  protect  you  on  your  journey,  and  return  you 
safe  to  your  friends." 

It  has  been  asserted  that,  when  preparing  tor  this  inter- 
view, Red-Jacket  supposed  that  possibly  he  might  be 
drawn  into  a  regular  argumentative  discussion  with  the 
missionary.  Like  a  wary  gladiator,  therefore,  on  entering 
upon  the  arena  he  felt  disposed  to  measure  the  ibrce  of 
his  antagonist,  and  by  a  searching  scrutiny  of  his  coun- 
tenance, ascertain  his  intellectual  calibre.  For  this  pur- 
pose, he  approached  very  near  the  person  of  the  mission- 
ary, and  by  a  rapid  but  penetrating  scrutiny,  soon  satis- 
fied himself  whether  it  was  a  great  man,  like  Con-neh- 
sau-ty,*  with  whom  he  was  to  draw  the  bow  of  Achilles, 
or  wield  the  shield  of  Ajax.  His  mind  was  quickly  at 
ease,  and  his  apprehensions,  if  he  had  entertained  any, 
were  dissipated  at  a  glance.  With  a  mingled  and  inde- 
scribable expression  of  countenance,  smiling  in  scornful 
composure,  he  turned  awa}^,  and  joined  the  dusky  circle 
of  his  own  people.t  Be  this  as  it  may,  his  reply  is  in- 
genious and  able.  Some  of  its  figures  are  beautiful, — 
some  of  its  passages  eloquent.  It  was  received  by  the 
missionary,  probably,  with  disappointment,  and  with 
manifest  displeasure, — a  displeasure  which  a  wiser  man, 
even  if  he  had  felt  it,  would  have  concealed.  Agreeably 
to  the  suggestion  at  the  close  of  Red-Jacket's  speech,  as 
the  council  was  breaking  up  the  Indians  moved  toward 
the  missionary  for  the  purpose  of  extending  the  parting 

*  Colonel  Pickering. 

t  MS.  Collections  of  Joseph  W.  Moulton. 

25 


rii, 


I    : 


i  '      ■           '■ 

i'ii 

'':              ,-1 

ji                                '        ;       ; 
1'                                    i'              ■    ! 

1                         ■■  . 
1     '^     ' 

Li  i  '-'* 

''■  i 

I 

i 

i    ■  ■  ■'  i 

i   •.;■    ,       . 

1 ;  1 

.    i  '     • 

\'  if 

1     •  1  i^^^:^ 

'  11 

i'  ht 

Ml 

Vl 

sDlfl 

'      I      :  kji  11 

Ji  h  ain 

^^r? 

jsiwJiHfM 

194 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


f\\ 


!  ■■  ( 


'il 


J 


hand  of  friendship ;  hut  Mr.  Cram  rose  hastily  from  his 
seat,  and  rcphcd  that  he  could  not  take  them  hy  the  liand, 
"there  heing,"  he  added,  "no  fellowship  between  the 
:"eligion  of  God  and  the  devil."     Tlicsc  words  were  in- 
lerpretcd  to  the  Indians,  but  they  nevertheless  smiled, 
ind  retired  in  a  peaceable  manner.     Subsequently,  on 
being  advised  of  the  indiscretion  of  his  remark,  Mr.  Cram 
observed  in  explanation,  that  he  supposed  the  ceremony  of 
shaking  hands  would  have  been  received  by  the  Indians 
as  a  token  that  he  assented  to  what  had  been  said.     Be- 
ing more  correctly  informed,  he  expressed  his  regret  at 
what  had  so  unadvisedly  fallen  from  his  lips.     Still  it 
cannot  be  denied  that  the  Indians  exhibited  better  breed- 
ing, and  more  knowledge  of  human  nature,  than  the 
missionary.     Indeed  it  is  quite  probable  that  Mr.  Cram's 
ill  success  arose  in  part  from  his  own  repulsiveness  of 
manner,  and  the  want  of  tact,  or,  in  other  words,  the 
power  of  adaptation,  so  essential  in  the  composition  of  a 
successful  missionary.     It  must  be  stated  in  fairness  to 
the  Indians,  to  borrow  the  langugagc  of  another,*  "  that 
the  missionaries  are  not  always  men  fitted    for  their 
work.     Many  of  them  have  been  destitute  of  the  talents 
and  information  requisite  in  so  arduous  an  enterprize ; 
some  have  been  bigotted  and  over-zealous,  and  others 
have  wanted  temper  and  patience.     Ignorant  of  the  abo- 
riginal languages,  and  obliged  to  rely  upon  interpreters 
to  whom  religion  was  an  occult  science,  they  doubtless 
often  conveyed  very  different  impressions  from  those 
which  they  intended  ;"  and  the  worthy  and  well  mean- 

*  Rev.  John  Breckenridge,  D.  D. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


19i 


ing  ni;iii  who  called  forth  the  preceding  pagan  speech  o 
Red-Jacket,  probably  deserved  to  be  classed  in  this 
category.  The  reader  will  have  observed,  from  an  inti- 
mation in  the  sjx^ech  itself,  that  the  orator  had  been  at 
several  of  the  missionary's  meetings,  and  it  has  been  as- 
serted of  Mr.  Cram  that  his  first,  or  at  least  an  early 
sermon  to  the  Indians,  was  exactly  such  as  a  wise 
man  would  never  have  preached  to  such  a  congrega- 
tion. Instead  of  being  a  simple  discourse,  brought 
down  to  the  level  of  dieir  ignorant,  and,  upon  such  a  sub- 
ject, child-like  minds,  presenting  to  them  the  elementaiy 
principles  of  Christianity  in  their  simplest  and  most 
winning  forms,  the  missionary,  according  to  tradition, 
gave  them  a  long  argumentative  sermon  upon  the  doctrine 
of  divine  decrees,  and  the  deep  mysteries  of  fore-know- 
ledge and  predestination.*  A  more  repulsive  theme, 
even  for  many  enhghtened  congregations  reared  in  the 
bosom  of  the  church,  could  hardly  have  been  selected  ; 
but  that  it  was  chosen  as  the  ground-work  of  an  intro- 
ductory discourse  to  these  simple  children  of  the  forest, 
argues  a  want  of  common  sense  almost  too  great  for  hu- 
man credulity.  Possibly  there  may  be  error  in  the  re- 
lation. But  another  circumstance  was  added,  which 
favors  its  truth.  Red-Jacket  is  reported  to  have  been 
indignant  at  the  attempt  to  force  doctrines  upon  him 
which  were  entirely  beyond  his  comprehension ;  and  in 
the  expression  of  that  indignation,  according  to  unwritten 
history,  he  perpetrated  the  only  pun  that  is  recorded  of 

*  The  author's  informant  is  a  distinguished  gentleman,  of  high  character  and 
intelligence,  then  a  resident  of  the  Seneca  country. 


0 


ffl 


1  i 


■  ',  ll 


\:.,\' 


'ui 


i 


i'  ''I'l 
i 


^iJi 


"i 


[•''I 


'  I  -^1 


196 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


i  \ 


I  I  il 


him.  "Not  content,"  he  said,  "with  the  wrongs  the 
white  men  had  done  to  his  people,  they  were  now  seek- 
ing to  Cram  their  doctrines  down  their  throats,"  &c. 
And  yet  the  remark  will  bear  repetition,  that  much  of 
the  difficulty  in  this,  and  other  similar  cases,  may  very 
naturally  have  arisen  f-om  the  ignorance  of  the  parties 
respectively  of  the  language  and  modes  of  thinking  of 
each  other.  In  regard  to  the  American  Indians,  in  par- 
ticular, the  greatest  difficulty  has  always  existed  in  con- 
veying any  new  ideas  to  their  minds,  from  the  barren- 
ness of  their  language ;  and  in  many  instances  it  has 
been  found  impossible  to  convey  to  them  the  sentiments 
attempted.^  •'  What  have  you  said  to  them  ?"  inquired 
a  missionaiy  once,  of  the  interpreter  who  had  been  ex- 
pounding his  sermon.  *'  I  told  them  you  have  a  mes- 
sage to  them  from  the  Great  Spirit,"  was  the  reply. 
•'  I  said  no  such  thing,"  cried  the  missionary.  "  Tell 
them  I  have  come  to  speak  to  them  of  the  only  living  and 
true  God,  and  of  the  life  that  is  to  be  hereafter: — Well, 
what  have  you  said  ?"  "  That  you  will  tell  them  about 
Manito,  and  the  land  of  spirits."  "  Worse  and  worse," 
exclaimed  the  embarrassed  preacher ;  and  such  is  doubt- 
less the  history  of  many  sermons  that  have  been  de- 
livered to  the  bewildered  heathen.t     The  fact  is,  Red- 


:,H 


'11 


*  Gonernl  Lincoln's  Obscrvationn  on  tlic  North  American  Indians,  in  a  letter 
to  Dr.  Rnmsay. 

t  M'Konni'j's  Lives  and  Portraits  of  (ho  Indians.  "The  Iroquois  have  few 
radical  words,  hut  they  compound  them  without  end.  Sometimes  one  word 
among  them  includes  an  entire  delinition  of  the  thing;  for  example,  they  call 
Wink,  Oncharadesehoenglat'ragheric,xxs  much  as  to  soy,  a  liquor  made  of  the 
juice  of  the  g-rrt/Jt'."[Colden's  Six  Nations. —  ]  "  The  Indian  longuoge  recpiircs 
many  more  words  to  express  the  meaning  of  the  speaker  than  uurs,  as  they  are 


Ni 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


197 


Jacket  did  not  understand  the  sj'stcm  of  the  Christian 
religion,  nor  did  he  wish  to  understand  it.  It  was  his  be- 
lief, and  it  is  that  of  the  Indians  generally,  that  they  form 
a  race  entirely  distinct  from  the  pale  faces.  They  repu- 
diated the  idea  of  a  common  origin  of  the  human  family ; 
and  as  to  the  mission  of  Christ,  and  his  crucifixion,  they 
cannot  perceive  that  they  are  interested  in  the  one,  or 
have  any  participation  in  the  guilt  of  the  other.  In  a 
conversation  with  a  distinguished  clergyman,  who  was 
endeavoring  to  instruct  him  upon  the  subject  of  the 
Christian  religion,  not  many  years  before  his  death,  Red- 
Jacket  said : — 

"  Brother  :  If  you  wliite  men  murdereJ  the  Son  of  the 
Great  Spirit,  wo  Indians  had  nothing  to  do  with  it,  and  it  is 
none  of  our  affair.  If  he  had  come  among  us,  we  would  not 
have  killed  liini  ;  wo  would  have  treated  him  well ;  and  the 
white  people  who  killed  him  ought  to  be  danmed  for  doing  it. 
You  must  make  amends  for  that  crime  yourselves.* 

obliged  to  doscribo  objects  which  a  single  English  w.jni  ■.ullice*  to  explain.  This 
vill  l>e  thu  more  icadily  nndcrstoml  by  tin?  Ibllcnviiig  slatenieni: — When  Ued- 
Jiickot,  Fannei's-Hiotiii'r,  and  several  hundred  Indians  iirrivt'd  at  Tioga  I'oint  to 
attend  the  treaty  of  1700,  Karmcr's-Hrother,  after  thanking  the  Cirent  Spirit  for 
having  permitted  them  to  travel  thin-  in  safely,  narrated  all  the  particulars  nt- 
teniling  their  ioinney.  ^Vishillg  anmni;  other  eircunistaiiees  to  describe  their 
having  maile  a  halt  at  a  log  hut,  where  a  kind  of  tavern  was  kept,  the  tavern  was 
described  ns  a  house  put  together  with  parts  of  trees  piled  on  each  other,  and 
to  which  a  pole  was  attached  to  which  a  hoard  was  tied,  on  which  was  written, 
"  Rum  is  sold  lit  re."  This  dilTiculty  of  expressing  in  a  few  wonls  matters 
which  in  their  own  language  required  a  roinid-about  description,  demanded  a 
considcroblc  lime  for  them,  in  their  jiublic  discussions,  to  say  that  which  the  intei^ 
proter  would  render  into  a  few  words  of  Englisli." — Letter  to  the  author  from 
Thomas  Morris. 

*  Convcrsatioiis  between  Dr.  Drockcnridgo  nnd  the  author.     Sue,  olso,  Drake, 
on  the  authority  of  W.  ,1.  Siielling. 


ill 


1^ 


m  I 


1             ■ 

1                  1 

t'i 

i 

i 

1. 

i            '; 

i 

k 

i  \l 

». 

.U^ 

i 

i 

.ft 


■'■^^ 


% 


m 


11 1« 


198 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


After  the  adjustment  of  the  great  controversy  between 
the  Indians  and  the  United  States,  at  Canandaigua,  in 
1794,  the  councils  of  the  Six  Nations  became  of  less 
public  importance.     Widi  the  exception  of  a  few  reser- 
vations, of  a  comparatively  limited  extent,  their  broad 
and  beautiful  domains  in  the  State  of  New- York  had 
fallen  widiin  the  greedy  and  remorseless  grasp  of  the 
white  men,  even  before  the  dawn  of  the  present  century. 
From  that  day  to  the  present,  the  efforts  of  those  who 
have  become  possessed  of  the  pre-emptive  title  to  tliose 
reservations  have  been  directed  to  the  acquisition  of  the 
fee  froui  the  Indians ;  and  so  strong  and  persevering 
have  been  the  appliances  to  that  end,  that  slice  after 
slice  has  been  taken  away,  until  but  a  comparatively 
few  thousand  acres   now  remain  to  the  Indians, — the 
scattered  and  disheartened  fragments  of  the  once  proud 
lords  of  the  continent.*     But  after  the  last  great  sale  to 
Robert  Morris,  in  1797,  and  after  the  deliberate  resolu- 
tion of  Red- Jacket,  as  already  stated,  to  repel  the  ad- 
vances of  the  whites,  and,  as  the  only  means  of  averting 
the  progressive  ruin  of  his  people,  to  re-envelope  them 
in  the  darkness  of  paganism,  and  restore  their  wildest 
barbarity,   he    continued    inflexible    in    his    purposes. 

*  Tlipso  ii'snrvntions  arc  ns  follows  : — 

Tonncvvaiula  Koserviuioii,  nrnr  Niiigarn  River,  containing  about  .  13,000  aoreg. 

Buflalo  Reservation,  near  the  city  of  Dufliilo,  "         "         .  53,000     " 

Cattaraugus  Il(■^l'rvation,  near  Catturaui^us  Creek,   "         "         .  22,000     " 

Allegliany  Reservation,  near  the  Allo^^hany  River,     "         ''         .  31,000     " 


IID.OOO     " 
Much  of  tills  luiiJ  is  among  the  most  fertile  and  valuable  in  the  State  of  New- 
York. 


■i 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


199 


From  the  hour  of  arriving  at  that  dctcrininntion  he 
never  in  the  slightest  degree  swerved  from  his  resolu- 
tion, to  drive  away,  and  keep  away,  every  innovation 
upon  the  character,  and  every  intrusion  upon  the  terri- 
tory then  remaining  to  his  nation.  In  the  Spring  of 
1811  an  attempt  was  made  by  the  New-York  Company 
holding  the  pre-emptive  title  to  the  reservations  within 
the  Morris,  or  Holland  Purchase,  to  divest  the  Indians 
of  their  rights  by  negotiation  and  purchase.  The  agent 
employed  by  the  Company  was  a  INIr.  Richardson. 
He  met  the  chiefs  in  council  at  Buffalo  Creek,  in  I\Iay, 
and  after  opening  his  business,  awaited  their  reply, 
which  was  made  by  Red-Jacket,  a  few  d;iys  afterward, 
in  the  following  speech  : — 


i    !'   i; 


lit 


'  !(;•  ■ 


"  Brother  :  We  opened  our  cars  to  the  talk  you  lately  de- 
livered to  us,  at  our  Council  fire.  In  doing  important  business 
it  is  best  not  to  tell  long  stories,  but  to  come  to  it  in  a  few 
words.  We  therefore  shall  not  repeat  your  talk,  which  is 
fresh  in  our  minds.  We  have  well  considered  it,  and  the  ad- 
vantages and  disadvantages  of  your  oflers.  We  request  your 
attention  to  our  answer,  which  is  not  from  tho  speaker  alone, 
but  from  all  the  Sachems  and  Chiefs  now  around  our  Coun- 
cil fire. 

"  Brother  :  We  know  that  great  men  as  well  as  great  na- 
tions, having  different  interests  have  diticrent  minds,  and  do 
not  see  the  same  subject  in  tho  same  light, — but  wo  hope  our 
answer  will  be  agreeable  to  you  and  to  your  employers. 

"  liROTHER  :  Your  applicaticm  for  the  punliasc  of  our 
lands  is  to  our  minds  very  extraordinary.  It  has  been  made 
in  a  crooked  manner, — you  have  not  walked  in  the  straight 
path  pointed  out  by  tho  great  Council  of  your  nation.  You 
have  no  writings  from  our  great  father  tho  President. 


1  I 


i<     ^. 


>  tv. 


■;> 


■u.m 


I  I 


l:il 


200 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


"  Brother  :  In  making  up  our  minds  we  have  looked 
back,  and  remembered  how  the  Yorkers  purchased  our  lands 
in  former  times.  They  bought  them  piece  after  piece  for  a 
little  money  paid  to  a  few  men  in  our  nation,  and  not  to  all 
our  brethren  ;  our  planting  and  hunting  grounds  have  become 
very  small,  and  if  we  sell  these  wc  know  not  where  to  spread 
our  blankets. 

"  Brother  :  You  tell  us  your  employers  have  purchased 
of  the  Council  of  Yorkers  a  riglit  to  buy  our  lands, — we  do 
not  understand  how  this  can  be, — the  lands  do  not  belong  to 
the  Yorkers ;  they  are  ours,  and  were  given  to  us  by  the 
Great  Spirit. 

"  Brother  :  We  think  it  strange  that  you  should  jump 
over  the  lands  of  our  brethren  in  the  East,  to  come  to  our 
Council  fire  so  far  off,  to  get  our  lands.  When  we  sold  our 
lands  in  the  East  to  the  white  people,  wo  determined  never 
to  sell  those  we  kept,  which  are  as  small  as  we  can  live  com- 
fortably on. 

"  Brother  :  You  want  us  to  travel  with  you,  and  look  for 
other  lands.  If  we  should  sell  our  lands  and  move  off  into  a 
distant  country,  towards  the  setting  sun,  we  should  be  looked 
upon  in  the  country  to  which  we  go  as  foreigners,  and  stran- 
gers, and  be  despised  by  the  red  as  well  as  the  white  men,  and 
we  should  soon  be  surrounded  by  the  white  men,  who  will 
there  also  kill  our  game,  come  upon  our  lands,  and  try  to  get 
them  from  us. 

"  Brother  :  We  are  determined  not  to  sell  our  lands,  but 
to  continue  on  them, — we  like  them, — they  are  fruitful  and 
produce  us  com  in  abundance,  for  the  support  of  our  women 
and  children,  and  grass  and  herbs  for  our  cattle. 

"  Brother  :  At  the  treaties  held  for  the  purchase  of  our 
lands,  the  white  men  with  sweet  voices  and  smiling  faces  told 
us  they  loved  us,  and  that  they  would  not  cheat  us,  but  that 
the  king's  children  on  the  other  side  the  lake  would  cheat  us. 
When  wo  go  on  the  other  side  the  lake  the  king's  children 
tell  us  your  people  will  cheat  us,  but  with  sweet  voices  and 


I  ■  'J^u. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


201 


smiling  faces  assure  us  of  their  love  and  that  they  will  not 
cheat  us.  These  things  puzzle  our  heads,  and  we  believe 
that  the  Indians  must  take  care  of  themselves,  and  not  trust 
either  in  your  people  or  in  the  king's  children. 

"  Brother  :  At  a  late  Council  we  re<jucstcd  our  agents  to 
tell  you  that  we  would  not  sell  our  lands,  and  we  think  you 
have  not  spoken  to  our  agents,  or  they  would  have  informed 
you  so,  and  we  should  not  have  met  you  at  our  Council  fire  at 
this  time. 

"  Brother  :  The  white  people  buy  and  sell  false  rights  to 
our  lands  ;  your  employers  have,  you  say,  paid  a  great  price 
for  their  right ;  they  must  have  plenty  oF  money,  to  spend  it 
in  buying  false  rights  to  lands  belonging  to  Indians  ;  the  loss 
of  it  will  not  hurt  them,  but  our  lands  are  of  great  value  to 
us,  and  we  wish  you  to  go  back  with  your  talk  to  yoir  em- 
ployers, and  to  tell  them  and  the  Yorkers  that  they  li;ive  no 
right  to  buy  and  sell  false  rights  to  our  lands. 

"  Brother  :  We  hope  you  clearly  understand  the  words 
we  have  spoken.     This  is  all  we  have  to  say." 

Thus,  as  in  the  great  majority  of  their  speeches,  the 
Indians  were  still  endeavoring  to  brace  themselves 
against  what  they  considered  to  be  the  inordinate  rapa- 
city of  the  whites,  in  the  acquisition  of  their  lands. 
This  disposition  of  the  white  man  to  grasp  at  all  their 
property,  with  a  view,  as  it  appeared,  of  driving  them 
from  the  face  of  the  earth,  was  then,  as  it  is  now,  and 
probably  ever  will  be  until  the  race  becomes  extinct, 
the  source  of  their  jealousy,  and  the  burden  of  their 
complaint.  Notwithstanding  the  rapid  diminution  of 
their  numbers,  and  their  increasingly  depressed  condi- 
tion, they  still  felt  that  they  were  independent  nations, 
and  they  were  tenacious  of  that  character.     They  be- 

26 


'! 


•r     {■>  rl 


1 

■1 

, 

f 

j 

E                       1 
1 

h     •  ; 

i 

^i 

\                 1 

w 

,.'; 

' 

f 

r^ 

' 

1 

jAmA 

1 

if^.im 


202 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


lieved  that  they  had  been  placed  on  •'  this  island"  by 
the  Great  Spirit,  and  that  he  had  created  it  for  their 
sole  benefit,  and  they  held  that  nobody  could  have  a 
right  to  dispossess  them.  Hence  nodiing  could  have 
been  more  inopportune  than  an  effort  made  at  this 
very  council,  by  a  missionary  society  in  the  city  of 
New-York,  to  establish  a  Christian  mission  among 
them.*  The  former  attempts  had  left  no  favorable  im- 
pression upon  the  mind  of  Red-Jacket,  now^  their  prin- 
cipal civil  chief.  On  the  contrary,  he  had  imbibed  a 
fixed  and  deep-rooted  hatred  to  the  system,  counte- 
nancing, as  he  supposed,  a  course  of  policy  on  the  part 
of  its  professors  that  would  eventually  sap  the  founda- 
tions of  the  happiness,  and  work  the  ruin  of  his  people.t 
Least  of  all  was  it  an  auspicious  moment  to  strive  far- 
ther to  persuade  them  to  change  their  religion,  at  the 
very  time  when  those  who  called  themselves  Chris- 
tains  were  renewing  their  efforts  to  dispossess  them 
of  their  few  remaining  roods  of  ground.  Hence  the 
following  reply,  by  Red-Jacket,  to  the  advances  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Alexander,  the  agent  of  the  Missionary  Socie- 
ty on  that  occasion  : — 

"Brother:  We  listened  to  the  talk  you  delivered  to  us 
from  the  Council  of  Black  Coatsf  in  New-York.     We  have 


*  "  In  diacourse  they  spoke  about  prraching;,  and  said,  '  they  wished  many 
times  to  hear  the  word  of  God ;  but  they  were  alwnvs  al'rai<l  tlmt  the  English 
would  take  that  opportunity  to  bring  tlicni  into  bondage.'  "—Journal  of  Chris- 
tian Frederick  Post,  to  the  Delawarcs  of  the  Ohio.  Trouil's  rcnnsylva- 
nia,  vol,  ii. 

t  Genoriil  Lincoln. 

\  So  Ked-Jttckot  was  wont  to  call  the  clergy. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


203 


fully  considered  your  talk,  and  the  offers  you  have  made  us  : 
we  perfectly  understand  them,  and  we  return  an  answer 
which  we  wish  you  also  to  understand.  In  making  up  our 
minds  we  have  looked  back  and  remembered  what  has  been 
done  in  our  days,  and  what  our  fathers  have  told  us  was  done 
in  old  times. 

'•Brotiiek:  Great  numbers  of  black  coats  have  been 
amongst  the  Indians,  and  with  sweet  voices,  and  smiling  faces, 
have  offered  to  teach  them  the  religion  of  the  white  people. 
Our  brethren  in  the  East  listened  to  the  black  coats, — turned 
from  the  religion  of  their  fathers,  and  took  up  the  religion  of 
the  white  people.  What  good  has  it  done  them  ]  Are  they 
more  happy  and  more  friendly  one  to  another  than  we  are  i 
No,  brother,  they  are  a  divided  people, — we  are  united;  they 
quarrel  about  religion, — we  live  in  love  and  friendship ; 
they  drink  strong  water, — have  learnt  how  to  clieat, — and  to 
practice  all  the  vices  of  the  white  men,  which  disgrace  In- 
dians, without  imitating  the  virtues  of  the  white  men. 
Brother,  if  you  are  our  well  wisher,  keep  away  and  do  not 
disturb  us. 

•'  Brother  :  We  do  not  worship  the  Great  Spirit  as  the 
white  men  do,  but  wc  believe  that  forms  of  worship  are  in- 
different to  the  Great  Spirit, — it  is  the  offering  of  a  sincere 
heart  that  pleases  him,  and  we  worship  him  in  this  man- 
ner. According  to  your  religion  we  must  believe  in  a  Father 
and  a  Son,  or  we  shall  not  be  happy  hereafter.  We  have  always 
believed  in  a  Father,  and  we  worship  him,  as  we  were  taught 
by  our  fathers.  Your  book  says  the  Son  was  sent  on  earth  by 
the  Father, — did  all  the  people  who  saw  the  Son  believe  in 
him  1  No,  they  did  not,  and  the  consequences  must  be 
known  to  you,  if  ,\  uu  have  read  the  book. 

"  Brother  :  You  wish  us  to  change  our  religion  for  yours, 
— we  like  our  religion  and  do  not  want  another.     Our  friends* 

*  rointing  to  Mr.  firaiigcr,  tlio  Agent  of  the  United  States  for  Indian  affuirs, 
who  waa  present — Mr.    Parish,  the  Indian  inteq)rctur,  and  Mr.  Taylor,  the 


'              1 

\  1 

i       '           ;     1 
( 

1 

ft 


i 


'I 
( 

!            i 
\ 

i 
i 

i  ' 

I 

!  ■ 

M' 

''  I'^n: 

V       i\h 

[        '   1'   1 

'^rm 


204 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


M 


M! 


l!ii!> 


do  us  great  good, — they  counsel  us  in  our  troubles,  and  in- 
struct us  how  to  make  ourselves  comfortable.  Our  friends 
the  Quakers  do  more  than  this, — they  give  us  ploughs,  and 
show  us  how  to  use  them.  They  tell  us  we  are  accountable 
beings,  but  do  not  say  we  must  change  our  religion.  We  are 
satisfied  with  what  they  do. 

"  Brother  :  For  these  reasons  we  cannot  receive  your 
offers — we  have  other  things  to  do,  and  beg  you  to  make 
your  mind  easy,  and  not  trouble  us,  lest  our  heads  should  be 
too  much  loaded,  and  by  and  by  burst." 

It  is  a  fact  that  cannot  be  sufficiently  deplored,  that 
men  boasting  of  their  civilization,  and  calling  themselves 
Christians,  not  only  in  this  but  in  other  lands,  have  by 
their  own  vicious  examples  interposed  the  greatest  ob- 
stacles to  the  eiforts  of  those  who  arc  earnestly  laboring 
for  the  moral,  social  and  religious  improvement  of  the 
heathen.  The  missiona.ries  have  found  such  to  be  the 
fact  in  the  Sand\yich  Islands.  And  so  upon  the  coasts 
of  Africa,  and  at  the  missionary  stations  in  the  China 
seas,  and  in  India,  the  counteracting  and  contaminating 
influences  of  the  seamen  and  others,  belonging  to  Chris- 
tian nations,  cause  the  severest  trials  which  the  mission- 
aries are  obliged  to  encounter.  The  natives  know  them 
all  alike  as  Christians, — not  understanding  the  difference 
between  those  who  are  really  and  truly  governed  by 
Christian  principle, — who,  in  a  word,  are  Christians  at 
heart, — and  those  who  are  called  Christians  because  they 
belong  to  nations  known  as  such,  albeit  as  individuals 
knowing  nothing  of,  and  caring  nothing  about,  religion  of 

agent  of  the  Society  of  Friends  for  Improving  the  Condition  of  the  Indians,  re- 
siding near  the  Alleghany  settlement,  but  also  present  at  the  Council. 


by 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


205 


any  sort.  Most  emphatically  has  such  been  the  fact  in 
respect  to  the  American  aboriginals.  To  borrow  a  brief 
passage,  without  essential  variation,  ft-  the  sainted 
Milne,  the  faithful  co-laborer  of  Morrison  m  China,  the 
meagre  specimens  of  Christianity  which  they  but  too 
often  see  among  the  so-called  civilized  men  who  first 
settled  around  them,  have  not  tended  to  produce  reve- 
rence for  the  system.  The  total  neglect  of  all  religion 
prevailing  too  generally  in  frontier  settlements,  even  among 
many  who  have  at  some  time  professed  to  be  the  follow- 
ers of  Christ, — the  public  and  bare-faced  profanation  of 
the  Sabbath, — the  avarice,  lying  and  cozening  which 
characterize  their  dealings,  sometimes  with  each  other, 
and  most  shamefully  often  in  their  commerce  with  the 
Indians, — the  drunkenness,  loose  morals,  and  hardness 
of  heart,  in  daily  illustration  all  around  them,  have  in  but 
too  many  instances  steeled  the  Indian's  soul  against 
Christianity.  However  earnestly  the  missionaries  may 
be  preaching  to  him  the  excellencies  of  Christianity  and 
civilization,  he  doubts  if  they  have  any  of  the  former, 
and  scoffs  at  the  latter.  He  cannot  think  well  of  a  sys- 
tem, the  professed  adherents  of  which  pay  so  little  re- 
gard to  God,  to  truth,  and  to  duty.*  Hence  the  tone  of 
Red-Jacket's  speeches  to  Mr.  Cram  and  ]\Ir.  Alexander ; 
hence  also  the  kindred  character  of  the  following  outline 
of  another  of  the  Seneca  orator's  philippics  against 
Christianity,  delivered  on  a  similar  occasion,  at  about 


I    ' 


'fl 


'■I  I'it 


J  '  i    1 1 


I,   ■  ■( 


I  ii 


Life  of  Dr.  Milne,  by  Robert  Philip,  page  146. 


!^l 


I  -.1  -' 


m 


ii. 


.yi'.iwii 


1 


206 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


ffl.r 


* 


the  same  period  of  his  life  with  his  last  mentioned  ad- 
dress : — * 

"  Brother  : — I  rise  to  return  you  the  thanks  of  this  nation, 
and  to  return  them  back  to  our  ancient  fr'ends, — if  any  such 
we  have, — for  their  good  wishes  toward  u  3  in  attempting  to 
teach  us  your  religion.  Inform  them  we  will  look  well  into 
this  matter.  We  have  well  weighed  your  exertions,  and  find 
your  success  not  to  answer  our  expectations.  But  instead  of 
producing  that  happy  effect  which  you  so  long  promised  U3, 
its  introduction  so  far  has  rendered  us  uncomfortable  and 
miserable.  You  have  taken  a  number  of  our  young  men  to  your 
schools.  You  have  educated  them  and  taught  them  your  re- 
ligion. They  have  returned  to  their  kindred  and  color,  neither 
white  men  nor  Indians.  The  arts  they  have  learned  are  in- 
compatible with  the  chase,  and  ill  adapted  to  our  customs. 
They  have  been  taught  that  which  is  useless  to  us.  They  have 
been  made  to  feel  artificial  wants,  which  never  er'  red  the 
minds  of  their  brothers.  They  have  imbibed,  in  your  great 
towns,  the  seeds  of  vices  which  were  unknown  in  the  forest. 
They  become  discouraged  and  dissipated, — despised  by  the 
Indians,  neglected  by  the  whites,  and  without  value  to  either, — 
less  honest  than  the  former,  and  i^crliaps  more  knavish  than 
the  latter. 

"Brother: — We  were  i  dd  that  the  failure  of  these  first 
attempts  was  attributable  to  miscalculation,  and  we  were  in- 
vited to  try  again,  by  sending  others  of  our  young  men  to  dif- 
ferent schools,  to  be  taught  by  different  instructors.  Brother, 
the  result  has  been  invariably  the  same.  We  believe  it  wrong 
for  you  to  attempt  further  to  promote  your  religion  among  us, 
or  to  introduce  your  arts,  manners,  habits,  and  feelings.     We 

*  The  precise  time  when  this  speech  was  delivered,  or  the  particular  occasion 
that  called  it  forth,  is  not  known.  The  manuscript,  from  the  interpretation  of  the 
old  Indian  linguist,  Captain  Parish,  was  obtained  by  Judge  Moulton,  from  the  late 
Dr.  Cyrenus  C'hapin,  of  Uuffalu. 


' 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


207 


believe  that  it  is  wrong  for  us  to  encourai^  you  in  si  oing. 
We  believe  that  the  Great  Spirit  made  the  whites  and  tlit  In- 
dians, but  for  different  purposes.* 

"  Brother  : — In  attempting  to  pattern  your  example,  the 
Great  Spirit  is  angiy, — for  you  see  he  does  not  bless  or  crown 
your  exertions." 

Here,  according  to  the  manuscript,  Kcd-Jackct  painted 
in  the  most  glowing  and  descriptive  colors  the  curse  that 
seemed  to  have  descended  upon  all  those  Indians  who 
had  been  made  the  objects  of  pious  but  mistaken  mis- 
sions,— ^liow  imbecile,  poor,  effeminate,  contemptible, 
drunken,  lying,  thieving,  cheating,  malicious,  meddle- 
some, backbiting,  quarrelsome,  degraded  and  despised, 
the  poor  vi^.'tims  of  civilized  instruction  had  become, — 
having  hjst  all  the  noble  qualities  of  the  savage,  and 
acquired  all  the  ignoble  vices  of  the  whites, — without  one 
solitary  exception  where  the  Indian  had  been  bettered. 
He  tl'.en  proceeded : — 

"  But,  Brother,  on  the  other  hand  we  know  that  the  Great 
Spirit  is  pleased  that  we  follow  the  traditions  and  customs  of 
our  forefathers, — for  in  so  doing  we  receive  his  blessing, — we 
have  received  sti'ength  and  vigor  for  the  chase.  The  Great 
Spirit  has  provided  abundance, — when  we  are  hungry  we  find 
the  forest  filled  with  game, — when  thirsty,  we  slake  our  thirst 
at  the  pure  streams  and  springs  that  spread  around  us. 
When  weary,  the  leaves  of  the  trees  are  our  bed, — we  retire 
with  contentment  to  rest, — we  rise  with  gratitude  to  the  Great 
Preserver.  Renovated  strength  in  our  limbs,  and  bounding 
joy  in  our  hearts,  we  feel  blessed  and  happy.  No  luxuries,  no 
vices,  no  disputed  titles,  no  avaricious  desires,  shake  the  foun- 

*  According  to  a  pnronihetical  note  in  the  manuscript,  Ilcd-Jackct  hero  went 
into  a  train  of  reasoning  from  analogy. 


Ill 


■j  ,;■ 


■I  ! 


11 


■It        1  ■')'  * 


■  '    II: 


1 


t^^;: 


i  .i  i 


!  ^! 


Hi 

i 


208 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


I    !      Wil 


tlations  of  our  society,  or  disturb  our  peace  and  happiness. 
Wo  know  the  Great  Spirit  is  better  pleased  with  his  red  chil- 
dren, than  witli  his  white,  when  ho  bestows  upon  us  a  hun- 
dred fold  more  blessings  than  upon  you. 

"  Perhaps,  Brother,  you  arc  right  in  your  religion  : — it 
may  be  peculiarly  adapted  to  your  condition.  You  say  that 
you  destroyed  the  Son  of  the  Great  Spirit.  I'erhaps  this 
is  the  merited  cause  of  all  your  troubles  and  misfortunes.  But, 
Brothers,  bear  in  mind  that  wo  had  no  partici[)ation  in  this 
murder.  We  disclaim  it, — we  love  the  Circat  Spirit, — and  as 
we  never  had  any  agency  in  so  unjust,  so  mcuxiless  an  outrage, 
he  therefore  continues  to  smile  upon  us,  and  to  give  us  peace, 
joy  and  jilcnty. 

"  Brother  : — We  pity  you, — we  wish  you  to  boar  to  our 
good  friends  our  best  wishes.     Inform  them  that  in  compassion 
toward   them,  we   are   willing  to  send  them  missionaries  to 
teach  them  our  religion,  habits  and  customs.     We  W(juld  be 
v/illing  they  should  be  as  happy  as  we  are,  and  assure  them 
that  if  they  should  follow  our  example,  they  would  be  more, 
far  more  happy  than  they  are  now.     We  cannot  embrace  your 
religion.     It  renders  us  divided  and  unhappy, — but  by  your 
embracing  ours,  we  believe  that  you  would  be  more  happy  and 
more  acceptable  to  the  Great  Spirit.     Here,  (j)ointing  his  fin- 
ger to  several  whites  present  who  had  been  captured  when 
children,  and  been  brought  up  among  them,)  here,  Brother, 
(with  an  animation  and  exulting  triumph  which  cannot  be  de- 
scribed,) here  is  the  living  evidence  before  you.     Those  young 
men  have  been  brought  up  with  us.     They  are  contented  and 
happy.     Nothing  would  be  an  inducement  with  them  to  aban- 
don their  enjoyments  and  adopt  yours, — for  they  are  too  well 
aware  of  the  blessings  of  our  society,  and  the  evils  of  yours. 
But  as  you  have  our  good  will,  we  would  gladly  know  that 
you  have  relinquished  your  religion,  productive  of  so  much 
disagreement  and  inquietude  among  yourselves,  and  instead 
thereof  that  you  should  follow  ours. 

"  Accept  of  this  advice,  Brother,  and  take  it  back  to  your 


OF  RKD-JACKET. 


209 


friends,  as  the  best  pledge  of  our  wishes  for  your  welfare. 
Perhaps  you  think  we  are  ignorant  and  uninformed.  (Jo,  then, 
and  teach  the  whites.  Select,  for  example,  the  people  of  Buf- 
falo. We  will  be  sjiectators,  and  remain  silent.  Improve 
their  morals  and  refine  their  habits, — make  them  less  disposed 
to  cheat  Indians.  Make  the  whites  generally  less  inclined  to 
make  Indians  drunk,  and  to  take  from  them  their  lands.  Let 
us  know  the  tree  by  the  blossoms,  and  the  blossoms  by  the 
fruit.  When  this  shall  be  made  clear  to  our  minds  we  may 
be  more  willing  to  listen  to  you.  But  until  then  we  must  be 
allowed  to  follow  the  religion  of  our  ancestors. 
"  Brother  : — Farewell !" 


!'  ! 


ll-iSJ 


and 
fin- 
len 
ler, 
de- 


A  bitter  satire  !  Humanity  weeps  that  the  conduct 
of  civihzed  men  puts  arguments  hke  these  into  the 
mouths  of  the  heathen,  against  their  own  best  good. 
It  is  a  striking  coincidence  that  the  Iroquois  Indians 
were  first  unhappily  made  acquainted  with  their  two 
greatest  enemies,  Hum  and  Gunpowder,  by  tlie  rival 
discoverers,  Hudson  and  Champlain,  during  the  same 
week  of  the  same  year,  1G09.  While  Henry  Hudson 
was  cautiously  feeling  his  way,  as  he  supposed,  into 
the  northern  ocean,  through  the  channel  of  the  river 
which  bears  his  name,  Cliamplain  was  accompanying  a 
war-party  of  the  Hurons  against  the  Iroquois,  upon  the 
lake  receiving  its  name  from  him.  Hudson  discovered  a 
company  of  the  Iroquois  upon  the  bank  of  the  river,  whom 
he  regaled  with  rum.  Champlain  discovered  a  body  of 
Iroquois  warriors  upon  the  coast  of  the  lake,  near  the  spot 
afterward  selected  for  the  site  of  Ticonderoga,  and 
there  first  taught  them  the  fatal  power  of  gunpowder. 
The  tradition  of  the  savages,  as  to  their  first  knowledge 

27 


i\. 


k 


ii 


,l5' 


•  i  I 


kZ 


210 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


of  the  former,  is  substantially  this  :  Many  years  ago, 
before  a  white  skin  had  ever  been  seen,  some  of  their 
people  who  were  fishing  where  the  sea  widens,  descried 
a  huge  object,  with  white  wings,  moving  up  the  water. 
They  hurried  ashore,  and  called  their  friends  to  view 
the  phenomenon.  None  of  them  could  divine  what  it 
was.  Some  of  them  supposed  it  must  be  a  huge  fish, 
and  others  a  monster  of  another  sort.  Onward  it 
came,  growing  larger  as  it  approached.  The  natives 
were  terrified,  and  despatched  runners  in  all  directions 
to  collect  their  warriors.  By  and  by  living  objects 
were  seen  moving  upon  the  back  of  the  monster.  As  it 
came  nearer,  they  saw  that  it  was  a  floating  house  or 
castle,  and  that  the  living  objects  on  board  had  the 
figures  of  men,  but  clothed  in  a  very  different  manner 
from  themselves.  One  of  them  was  in  red.  They 
now  concluded  that  it  was  the  INIanitto,  or  Great  Spirit, 
coming  to  make  them  a  visit.  Their  sensations  were, 
therelbre,  changed  from  fear  to  adoration.  Instantly 
they  set  themselves  at  the  work  of  preparation  to  re- 
ceive their  celestial  visiter  with  divine  honors.  The 
men  prepared  a  sacrifice,  and  the  women  a  feast. 
They  had  no  apprehension  that  the  Manitto  was  coming 
to  them  in  anger,  for  they  worshipjied  him  in  sincerity. 
They  descried  from  the  distance  various  animals  in 
their  Manitto's  water-pavilion,  and  thougiit  that  perhaps 
he  was  coming  to  bring  them  some  new  species  of 
game.  While  the  preparations  for  the  festival  were  in 
progress,  the  house  upon  the  water  sto^jped.  Tiie  medi- 
cine-men were  busy  with  their  charms,  to  divine  the 


;l'  i'' 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


211 


import  of  the  extraordinary  visitation,  and  the  women 
and  children  looked  on  with  awe.     At  length  a  voice 
sounded  from  the  vessel,  speaking  words  in  a  language 
they  could  not  understand.     They  replied  by  a  shout 
peculiarly  their  own.     A  small  canoe  then  left  the  large 
vessel  with  several  persons  therein,  one  of  whom  was 
the  being  in  red.     It  was  certainly  the  Manitto !     The 
sachems  and  warriors  formed  a  circle  to  receive  him 
with  solemn  respect.     As  the  canoe  touched  the  land, 
the  figure  in  red,  with  two  attendants,  stepped  on  shore, 
and    approached   them    with   a   friendly  countenance. 
The  figure  in  red  saluted  them  with  a  smile,  and  they 
returned   his  salute.     A  passage  was  opened  for  him 
into  the  circle,  and  his  gorgeous  red  dress,  and  orna- 
ments   glittering    in    the    bright     sun,    wore    viewed 
with  delight.     Surely   it   must    be    the    Manitto.     But 
why   should    he    have   a  white  skin  ?      The    thought 
was   perplexing ;    but  he  was,  nevertheless,  regarded 
with   mingled   feelings   of  amazement   and   adoration. 
After   friendly  salutations  had  been  interchanged,  the 
Manitto  beckoned  to  one  of  his  attendants  at  the  canoe, 
who  brought  him  a  bocAhacJc,*  clear  as  the  new  ice  upon 
the  surface  of  a  lake.     He  also  had  a  little  cup  which 
was   also  transparent.      The    Manitto    then   poured  a 
liquid  from  the  bocJchack  into  the  cup,  which  he  drnnk. 
Then  filUng  the  cup  again,  he  handed  it  to  the  chief 
standing  near  him.     The  chief  smelled  it,  and  passed  it 
to  the  next,  who  did  the  same,  and  in  this  manner  it 


!■,? 


Vi.    t 


„! 


1 


A  gourd.     Tlio  reference  is  to  a  glast  decanter. 


"f  m 


i..    ;^ 


lli 

I 


I 


212 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


went  round  the  circle,  without  the  liquid  having  been 
tasted  by  either.  As  the  last  man  of  the  circle  was  about 
returning  the  cup  to  the  Manitto,  the  first  chief  inter- 
posed and  arrested  the  movement.  The  cup,  he  said, 
had  been  given  to  them  to  drink,  as  the  giver  had  done 
himself,  and  it  would  be  offending  their  Great  Benefactor 
to  return  it  to  him  untasted.  To  drink  it  would  please 
him, — to  refuse  might  provoke  his  wrath.  Be  the  con- 
sequences, therefore,  what  they  might,  he  would  drink 
the  cup.  It  would  be  better  tor  liim  to  encounter  even 
a  poisoned  draught,  than  for  the  Great  Spirit  to  become 
angry  with  their  whole  nation.  Saying  which,  the 
patriotic  chief  bade  his  people  adieu,  and  quaffed  the 
cup  to  its  bottom.  All  eyes  were  now  directed  to  the 
chief  in  watching  the  effects.  There  was  no  sudden 
change  ;  but  no  long  time  had  elapsed  before  his  joints 
became  relaxed, — his  movements  grew  flexible,  and  ere 
long  his  limbs  refused  to  perform  their  office.  His  eyes 
closed  lustreless,  and  he  rolled  heavy  and  helpless  upon 
the  ground.  The  dusky  group  stood  around  him  in 
solemn  thought,  and  the  wailings  of  the  women  rose 
upon  the  gale.  He  became  motionless,  and  they  sup- 
posed him  dead.  But  perceiving  afterward,  from  the 
heaving  of  his  chest,  that  he  yet  breathed,  their  grief 
was  abated,  and  they  watched  anxiously  the  result, — 
not  daring,  of  course,  to  breathe  a  murmur  against  the 
Great  Spirit,  whatever  that  result  might  be.  After  a 
long  time,  their  chief  began  to  revive.  He  rose  upon 
his  seat,  rubbed  his  eyes,  and  at  length  sprang  joyously 
upon  his  feet.     He  declared  that  he  had  experienced 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


213 


the  most  (1>  lightful  sensations  while  in  the  trance.  He 
had  seen  visions,  and  had  never  been  more  happy.  He 
requested  another  draught ;  and  encouraged  by  his  ex- 
ample, the  liquor  was  poured  out  for  them  all.  They 
all  partook  of  the  ravishing  cup, — and  all  became  in- 
toxicated.* 

Fatal  indeed  was  that  cup  !    From  the  hour  when  they 
first  tasted  the  maddening  poison  to  the  present,  their  thirst 
for  it  has  not  abated.     In  vain  have  their  best  advisers 
and  teachers  admonished  them  against  it.     In  vain  have 
humane  legislatures  endeavored  to  prohibit  its  introduc- 
tion among  them.     In  vain  have  their  own  Councils, 
when  sober,  passed  decrees  against  it.     And  equally 
vain  have  been  the  most  eloquent  and  pathetic  appeals 
of  their  women   against  it; — whenever  and  wherever 
they  can  lay  their  hands  upon  the  fire-water,  they  are 
sure  to  drink  it.     Two  hundred  years  ago,  the  clergy, 
and  all  good  men,  deplored  the  evil  as  deeply  as  their 
successors  do  at  this  day.     With  equal  vehemence  did 
thev  then,  as  now,  inveigh  against  the  conduct  of  the 
■'vhite  men,  who,  knowing  their  infirmity,  supply  thera 
with  the  poison.     "  Those,"  says  Charlevoix,  writing  in 
1721,  "who  perhaps  have  greatest  reason  to  reproach 
themselves  with  the  horrors  of  Indian  intoxication,  are 
the  first  to  ask  whether  they  are  Christians.     One  might 
answer  them,  yes,  they  arc  Christians,  and  now  con- 
verts, knowing  not  what  they  do ;  but  those  who,  in  cold 
blood,  and  with  a  perfect  knowledge  of  what  they  are 

*  MS.  in  the  Now- York  Historical  Society.     Heckoweldcr,  vol.  i.     Phila- 
delphia Philosophical  TrouBactions. 


I   1 


u'  r- 


-I- 


1 

i 

RMIF'  T 

tmml     i 

H     ^ 

1      ^ 

m 

1  ^ 

214  LIFE  AND  TIMES,  &c. 

about,  reduce,  from  sordid  motives  of  avarice,  these 
simple  people  to  this  condition,  can  they  be  imagined  to 
have  any  religion  at  all  ?  We  certainly  know  that  an 
Indian  will  give  all  he  is  worth  for  one  glass  of  brandy. 
This  is  strong  temptation  to  dealers,  against  which 
neither  the  exclamations  of  their  pastors,  nor  the  zeal 
and  authority  of  the  magistrate,  nor  respect  for  the 
laws,  nor  the  severity  of  divine  justice,  nor  the  dread  of 
the  judgments  of  the  Almighty,  nor  the  thoughts  of  a 
hell  hereafter,  of  which  these  barbarians  exhibit  a  very 
striking  picture,  have  been  able  to  avail."* 

*  Charlevoix — Voyage  to  North  America.     Letter  viii. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


Movements  of  Tecumseh  and  tlie  Prophet,  Elskawatwa,  among  the  western  na- 
tions— The  young  Scnccas  eager  to  join  them — The  government  of  the  United 
States  admonished  by  Red-Jacket — His  speech  to  the  Secretary  of  War — 
Battle  of  Tippecanoe — Conduct  of  the  Prophet — War  of  1812  with  England — 
Council  of  the  Six  Nations  at  Buffalo — Speech  of  Granger,  the  agent — Red- 
Jacket's  reply — Senecas  declare  themselves  neutral — Active  hostilities— The 
Senecas  declare  war—  General  Alexander  Smyth — General  Lewis  invites  the 
Scnecos  to  join  him — Their  arrival  at  Fort  Niagara — Murder  of  Lieutenant 
Eldridge — Invasion  of  Black  Ruck  by  the  enemy  under  Colonel  Bishop— Re- 
pulsed by  General  Porter's  volunteers  and  Lidians — Death  of  Colonel  Bishop — 
Smart  affair  of  the  Indians  and  volunteers  near  Fort  George. 


The  reader  will  probably  be  surprised  to  discover 
the  name  of  Red-Jacket  in  connexion  with  the  Indian 
war  between  the  United  States  and  the  Shawanese,  and 
other  powerful  tribes  of  the  West,  under  the  celebrated 
Tecumseh,  in  the  year  ISll.  Like  the  great  Pomatecom, 
the  Wampanoag,*  of  the  eastern  Indians,  and  Pontiac 
the  Ottawa,  and  Brant  the  Mohawk,  Tecumseh,  with  the 
aid  of  his  brother,  Elskawatwa,t  had  for  years  been 
laboring  to  form  a  vast  league  of  the  western  and  south- 


*  Philip  of  Pokanoket,  commonly  called  King  Philip. 

t  This  name,  according  to  Schoolcraft,  signilics  "  A-Jirc-that-movei-from-plaee- 
to-place."  The  orthography  of  Elskawatwu's  name  has  been  variously  changed 
by  recent  writers.  Gushing,  in  his  Life  of  Harrison,  writes  it  01-li-wa-chi-ca, 
upon  what  authority  I  know  not.  Li  the  absence  of  a  reason  for  tlic  change,  the 
primitive  name  is  preferred. 


!  I 


\4 

li>  if 


I! 


li 


Hi 


i!     iK 


^     '■{ 


\' 


I  > 


216 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


western  Indians,  in  the  vain  expectation  that  they  might 
be  able  to  arrest  the  farther  advances  of  the  white  popu- 
lation. Those  Indians  were  then,  as  they  ever  had 
been  since  the  conquest  of  Canada  from  the  French, 
more  under  the  influence  of  the  British  officers  in  the 
north-west,  and  of  the  British  Fur  Companies  and  tra- 
ders, than  under  that  of  the  Americans.  Notwithstanding 
all  the  friendly  advances  of  the  Americans  toward  them, 
prior  and  subsequent  to  the  war  of  1789 — 1795,  ended 
by  General  Wayne  at  the  battle  of  the  Miamis  and  the 
treaty  of  Greenville, — their  attachment  to  England  was 
much  stronger  than  to  the  United  States,  and  the  move- 
ments of  Tecumseh  were  evidently  not  looked  upon  with 
an  unfavorable  eye  by  the  British  provincial  authorities 
in  the  remote  interior,  inasmuch  as  the  relations  between 
the  United  States  and  Great  Britain  were  at  that  time 
critical,  and  evidently  verging  toward  a  war.  The 
Prophet  had  begun  to  collect  nis  warriors  as  early  as 
1808,  and  in  1810  Tecumseh  assumed  a  semi-hostile 
attitude  toward  General  Harrison,  in  a  council  held  at 
Vincennes.  The  elements  of  the  succeeding  storm 
thenceforward  gathered  rapidly ;  and  although  the  Uni- 
ted States  had  vastly  increased  in  numbers  and  strength 
since  the  Indians  were  overwhelmed  at  the  Miamis,  yet 
the  white  settlements  immediately  upon  the  borders 
were  in  as  great  peril  as  were  the  borderers  twenty 
years  before.  For  many  months,  therefore,  during  these 
movements  of  Tecumseh  and  his  brother,  the  homes  of 
the  frontier  settlers  were  those  of  peril.  They  were  in 
daily  apprehension  that  their  paths  would  be  ambushed. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


217 


At  every  rustling  leaf  the  mother  pressed  her  infant 
more  closely  to  her  bosom.  The  yells  of  savage  ven- 
geance and  the  shrieks  of  torture  seemed  again  in 
fancy  to  sigh  upon  the  west  winds,  and  mingle  with 
every  echo  from  the  mountains.  Families  retired  to 
rest,  not  knowing  but  that  the  war-whoop  should  wake 
the  sleep  of  the  cradle,  or  that  the  darkness  of  mid- 
night might  not  glitter  with  the  blaze  of  their  own  dwel- 
lings.* 

It  has  been  seen  in  the  glances  heretofore  given  of 
the  former  Indian  wars,  ended  by  General  Wayne,  that 
notwithstanding  the  friendship  of  most  of  the  Seneca 
chiefs  for  the  United  States,  many  of  their  warriors, 
especially  their  young  men,  would  steal  away  and  join 
themselves  to  the  forces  of  the  Little  Turtle  and  his 
allies ;  and  although  sixteen  years  of  peace  had  inter- 
vened since  the  treaty  of  Greenville,  and  the  Scnccas 
had   been  living  in  close  proximity,  and  upon  cordial 
terms,  with  the  white  settlers  of  New-York,  by  whom  they 
were  now  completely  surrounded,  yet  no  sooner  did 
they  scent  blood  upon  the  western  gales  than  numbers 
of  their  warriors  again  stole  away  and  joined  themselves 
to  the  forces  of  Tecumseh  and  the  Prophet.t     The  fact 
of  this  intercommunication  between  the  Senecas  and  the 
warriors  of  Tecumseh  could  not  of  course  be  kept  from 
the  knowledge  of  the  chiefs  of  the  former,  and  it  is  due 
to  Red- Jacket  to  place  the  fact  upon  record,  that  he  was 


t  J 


i.  I 


II    : 

V. 

•■•tt 


1 1 


1?^!-;':' 


•  Speech  of  Fisher  A  Ties  on  the  British  Treaty. 

t  MS.  Letter  of  George  Hosmer  to  Henry  O'lleilly,  Esq.,  autlior  of  History  of 
Rochester. 

88 


1 

• 

HI 

t\j\ 

iwM 

!      1  • 

f! 

i     |:,<^ 

\     "^i 

r 

J 

i, 

218 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


j; 

, 

I    ■  I 


true  to  the  United  States  in  regard  to  those  transactions, 
and  that  as  early  as  1809  he  gave  information  to  the  In- 
dian Agent  of  the  gatherings  of  the  western  tribes,  and 
the  organization  of  another  extensive  league,  for  the 
avowed  purpose,  in  their  own  councils,  of  war.  Ve:y 
early  in  the  year  1810,  Red-Jacket  visited  the  city  of 
Washington  at  the  head  of  a  delegation  of  his  people, 
attended  by  Erastus  Granger  the  Agent,  and  Captain 
Parish  the  interpreter.  During  this  visit,  viz.,  on  the 
13th  of  February,  Red-Jacket  delivered  a  speech  to  the 
Secretary  at  War,  of  which  the  following  passage  has 
been  preserved  in  the  archives  of  the  Department : — 

"  Brother  : — At  the  time  we  were  making  bright  the  chain 
of  friendship  at  Canaiidaigua,  tlie  commissioner  on  your  part 
told  U3  that  the  time  might  come  when  your  enemies  would 
endeavor  to  distiirb  our  minds,  and  do  away  the  friendship  we 
had  there  formed  with  you.  That  time,  Brother,  has  already 
airived.  Since  you  have  had  some  disputes  with  the  British 
government,  their  agents  in  Canada  have  not  only  endeavored 
to  make  the  Indians  at  the  westward  your  enemies,  but  they 
have  sent  a  war-belt  among  our  warriors,  to  poison  their 
minds,  and  make  them  break  their  faith  with  you.  This  belt 
we  exhibited  to  your  agents  in  council,  and  then  sent  it  to  the 
place  whence  it  came,  never  more  to  be  seen  among  us.  At 
the  same  time  we  had  information  that  the  British  had  circu- 
lated war-belts  among  the  western  Indians,  and  within  your 
territory.  We  rested  not,  but  called  a  general  council  of  the 
Six  Nations,  and  resolved  to  let  our  voice  be  heard  among  our 
western  brethren,  and  destroy  the  effects  of  the  poison  scat- 
tered among  them.  We  have  twice  sent  large  deputations  to 
their  council  fire,  for  the  pui-pose  of  making  their  minds  strong 
in  their  friendship  with  your  nation ;  and,  in  the  event  of  a 
war  between  the  white  people,  to  sit  still  on  their  seats,  and 


i     1,: 


:1M^ 


l'  ■    \ 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


819 


take  no  part  on  either  side.  So  far  as  our  voice  has  been 
heard,  they  have  agreed  to  hearken  unto  our  counsel,  and  re- 
main at  peace  with  your  nation. 

"  Brother  : — If  a  war  sliould  take  place,  we  hope  you  will 
inform  us  of  i'  .<ough  your  agents,  and  we  will  continue  to 
exert  our  influence  with  all  the  Indians  with  whom  we  are 
acquainted,  that  they  will  sit  still  upon  their  seats,  and  culti- 
vate friendship  with  your  people." 

Of  these  two  councils  to  which  Red-Jacket  referred 
in  this  speech,  they  having  been  probably  composed  ex- 
clusively of  Indians,  no  written  memorials  have  been  pre- 
served.     Yet    it   is    stated   that  at  about  that  period 
there  was  held  at  Detroit,  or  in  its  vicinity,  perhaps  the 
largest  Indian  Council  that  had  been  known  in  many 
years,  at  which  were  assembled  deputations  from  all 
the  tribes  and  nations  of  the  upper  lakes,  and  to  which 
the   Senecas   sent  a   strong  representation  with   Red- 
Jacket  at  its  head.     The  first  day  of  the  council  there 
arose  a  question  of  the  right  of  precedence  in  debate, — 
a  point  of  honor  most  tenaciously  regarded.     It  was 
claimed   by  the   Wyandots,  and    supported    by   their 
ablest  chiefs,  to  whom  Red-Jacket  repUed,  displaying  a 
knowledge  of  the  history  of  the  several  tribes,  and  pow- 
ers of  oratory,  particularly  of  invective,  which  accord- 
ing to  an  eye-witness,  who  understood  the  languiige  per- 
fectly, were  truly  wonderful.     At  least  his  speech  was 
so  overpowering   that  no   one  attempted  a  reply,  and 
the  rank  of  the  Senecas  was  yielded  to  them  without 
farther  contention.* 


^1 


^11 


'V:   ! 


v 


ii 


1:';'      ,1 


*  Letter  to  the  author  from  Hon.  Albert  H.  Tracy. 


I        lit, 


220 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


This  may  very  likely  have  been  one  of  the  Councils 
to  which  Red-Jacket  referred  in  his  speech  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  War,  in  wliich  the  Seneca  chiefs  endeavored 
to  dissuade  Tecumseh  from  a  farther  prosecution  of  his 
designs.  But  those  pacific  counsels  were  of  no  avail. 
The  storm  of  war  broke  out  in  1811,  but  was  summa- 
rily ended,  for  that  year  at  least,  by  General  William 
Henry  Harrison,  then  Governor  of  Indiana,  at  the  head 
of  a  division  of  United  States  troops,  and  several  corps 
of  western  volunteers,  on  the  bloody  field  of  Tippe- 
canoe. The  action  was  fierce,  and  many  of  the  noblest 
spirits  of  the  west  fell.  But  the  victory  was  decisive.* 
Tecumseh  was  not  himself  in  this  battle,  having  been 


I  ;i 


*  The  battle  of  Tippecanoe  was  fought  on  the  Wahash,  near  the  Prophet's- 
Town,  on  the  7th  of  November,  1811.  The  forces  of  Governor  Harrison  con- 
sisted of  a  body  of  Kentucky  and  Indiana  militia,  and  the  4th  U.  S.  Regiment, 
under  Colonel  Boyd.  The  straggling  Indians  whom  they  saw  on  the  march 
toward  the  town  had  behaved  in  a  very  threatening  manner, — so  much  so  that 
it  was  the  strong  desire  of  Colonel  Daviess  and  the  officers  generally,  that 
Harrison  should  proceed  and  attack  the  town,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  Cth  ;  but 
the  Governor's  orders  were  peremptory  not  to  fight,  if  hostilities  could  possibly 
be  avoided,  and  as  he  was  met  near  the  town  by  several  chiefs,  disclaiming  all 
hostile  designs,  and  making  offers  of  peace  and  submission,  the  Governor,  after 
carefully  reconnoitoring  the  country,  selected  an  advantageous  position,  and  en- 
camped for  the  night.  At  four  in  the  morning,  just  after  the  Governor  had  risen 
and  dressed,  while  engaged  in  conversation  with  his  military  family,  the  attack 
was  commenced, — the  Indians,  to  the  number  of  from  six  to  eight  hundred,  hav- 
ing crept  stealthily  up  to  his  very  outposts.  The  camp  was  furiously  assailed  on 
all  sides,  and  a  bloody  and  doubtful  contest  ensued.  It  was  not  until  after  sun- 
rise that  the  Indians  were  finally  repulsed,  with  the  loss,  on  the  part  of  the 
Americans,  of  sixty-two  killed  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-six  wounded,  and  a 
still  greater  loss  on  the  side  of  the  Indians.  Colonel  Daviess,  a  distinguished 
lawyer,  a  volunteer  from  Kentucky,  Colonel  White,  and  several  other  valuable 
officers,  fell  on  this  occasion.  Governor  Harrison,  having  destroyed  the  Pro- 
phet's-town,  and  tlu'own  up  some  fortifications,  returned  to  Vincenuea. 


■  i^ 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


S21 


absent  on  a  visit  to  the  Creeks,  whom  he  was  endeavoring 
to  persuade  to  take  up  the  hatchet.  The  Indians  were  com- 
manded by  White-Loon,  Stone-Eater,  and  Winemac,  a 
Potawatamic  chief  who  had  been  with  General  Harrison 
on  his  march,  and  at  Fort  Harrison,  making  great  profes- 
sions of  friendship.  Their  master-spirit  was  the  Prophet 
himself,  Elskawatwa.  Not  that  he  was  actually  in  the 
battle,  since  "  he  kept  himself  secure  on  an  adjacent 
eminence,  singing  a  war-song.  He  had  told  his  follow- 
ers that  the  Great  Spirit  would  render  the  army  of  the 
Americans  unavailing,  and  that  their  bullets  would  not 
hurt  the  Indians,  who  would  have  light  while  their  ene- 
mies would  be  involved  in  thick  darkness.  Soon  after 
the  battle  commenced  he  was  informed  that  his  braves 
were  falling.  He  told  them  to  fight  on,  assuring  them 
that  it  would  be  as  he  had  predicted,  and  then  began  to 
sing  in  louder  tones."*  Numbers  of  the  young  Seneca 
warriors  were  engaged  in  this  battle. 


*  Dawson's  Life  of  General  William  Henry  Harrison.  The  Prophet  was 
frequently  engaged  in  practicing  incantations  and  infernal  rites  and  conjurations. 
There  is  no  better  method  of  working  upon  the  feelings  of  the  Indians  than  an 
appeal  to  their  superstition.  Tecumsoh  and  the  Prophet  had  conceived  the  idea 
of  combining  all  the  Indians  in  a  league,  and  making  war  upon  the  United  States, 
as  early  as  1806.  The  first  account  of  the  pretended  divine  mission  of  the  Pro- 
phet is  contained  in  a  talk  which  was  circulated  widely  amonj  the  Indian  na- 
tions, in  1807.  This  talk  was  delivered  at  he  entrance  of  Lake  Michigan,  by 
the  Indian  chief  Le  Maiquois,  or  The  Trout,  on  the  4th  of  May,  jf  that  year, 
as  coming  from  "  the  first  man  whom  God  created,"  and  was  addressed  to  all 
the  Indian  tribes.  The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  talk  referred  lo,  und  is 
a  curiosity : — 

"  I  am  the  father  of  the  English,  of  the  B'rench,  of  the  Spaniards,  and  cf  the 
Indians.  I  created  the  first  man,  who  was  the  common  father  of  all  these  peo- 
ple, as  well  as  yourselves  ;  and  it  is  through  him,  whom  I  have  awakened  from 
his  long  sleep,  that  I  now  address  you.     But  the  Americana  I  did  not  make. 


I    '  ■■  i' 


,i-   ? 


\V  1 


,   , 

'f 

If 

i 

■  ' 

i 

'--: 

fn^ 

j. 

\ 

1,  ?  l!,- 

!' 

1',1 

F 

ii 

i\'' 

1    ■ 

\  i 

1 

\ 

'■ 

II 

f 

i 

'if 

*l 

1 

m 

i         ■ 

U     4;: 

.  i*l 

m 

f        Ki 


1^ 


III 


i  1 

1^ 
i 

M    11   ^' 

i|;^:,^ 

222 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


From  the  evidence  collected  by  the  government  of  the 
United  States  at  the  time,  no  doubt  can  exist  that  Te- 
cuniseh  and  his  followers  had  been  moved  to  their  hos- 
tile course  by  the  officers  of  the  British  Indian  Depart- 
ment in  the  upper  lake  country,  and  by  the  British  fur 
traders.  The  relations  between  the  United  States  and 
Great  Britain  had  again  assumed  an  unfriendly  charac- 
ter, threatening  war ;  and  as  in  former  years,  the  agents 
of  the  latter  were  active  in  their  exertions  again  to 
secure  the  Indians  as  their  allies,  in  anticipation  t'  a 
rupture.* 

The  act  of  the  Congress  of  tlie  United  States,  decla- 
ring war  against  England,  was  approved  by  President 
Madison  on  the  18th  of  June,  1812,  and  the  proclama- 
tion of  the  President,  announcing  the  fact  to  the  world, 
was  issued  on  the  19th.  The  news  had  no  sooner 
reached  the  province  of  Upper  Canada,  than  measures 
were  adopted  by  the  officers  of  the  crown  to  induce  the 
Mohawks  and  all  other  Indians,  who  could  he  controlled 
by  their  influence,  to  take  up  the  hatchet.     The  Shawa- 

They  are  not  my  children,  but  the  children  of  the  evil  spirit.  They  grew 
from  the  scum  of  the  great  water,  when  it  was  troubled  by  the  evil  spirit,  and 
the  froth  was  driven  into  the  woods  by  a  strong  east  wind.  They  are  numerous, 
but  I  hate  them.  My  children,  you  must  not  speak  of  this  talk  to  the  whites. 
It  must  be  hidden  from  them.  I  am  now  on  the  earth,  sent  by  the  Great  Spirit 
to  instruct  you.  Each  village  must  send  me  two  or  more  principal  chiefs  to  re- 
present you,  that  you  may  be  taught.  The  bearer  of  this  talk  will  point  out  to 
you  the  path  to  my  wigwam.  I  could  not  come  myself  to  Abro  Croche,  because 
the  world  is  changed  from  what  it  was.  It  is  broken,  and  leans  down,  and  as  it 
declines,  the  Chippewns  and  all  beyond  will  fall  off  and  die.  Therefore,  you 
must  come  to  see  me,  and  be  instructed.  Those  villages  which  do  not  listen  to 
this  talk,  and  send  me  two  deputies,  will  be  cut  off  from  the  face  of  the  earth." 

This  great  Manitou,  or  Indian  second  Adam,  was  Elskawatwa. 

*  Vide  American  State  Papers, — Indian  Affairs,  pp.  795 — 804. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


223 


nese,  and  Miamis,  and  their  confederates,  who  had  been 
so  recently  and  severely  cliastised  by  General  Harrison, 
were  of  course  eager  for  the  onslaught.  The  Mohawks, 
moreover,  residing  upon  the  Grand  River,  about  sixty 
miles  from  Niagara,  were  no  less  ready  to  take  part  in 
the  war,  and  their  emissaries  were  early  among  the  i^ene- 
cas,  for  the  purpose  of  influencing  them  to  embark  in  the 
contest,  upon  the  same  side.  In  this  effort  they  were 
not  successful,  as  the  Senccas,  and  all  others  of  the  Six 
Nations  remaining  within  the  state  of  New- York,  were 
disposed  to  peace,  save  some  hundreds  of  the  younger 
warriors,  who  seemed  impatient  to  bear  a  part,  though, 
for  once,  not  against  the  United  States.  But  the  older 
chiefs  preferred  repose,  and  they  more  than  once  des- 
patched messengers  of  peace  among  their  brethren  the 
Mohawks,  to  dissuade  them  from  their  bloody  purposes. 
Farthermorc  the  American  government,  in  conformity 
with  the  humane  policy  which  had  prompted  a  similar 
course  at  the  beginning  of  the  revolutionary  war,  lost 
not  a  moment  in  its  endeavors  to  prevent  the  Senccas 
and  others  of  the  Six  Nations  residing  in  the  state  of 
New- York,  from  engaging  at  all  in  the  contest.  To  this 
end  a  council  of  those  nations  was  convened  at  Buffalo, 
on  the  Gth  and  8th  days  of  July,  by  Mr.  Erastus  Granger, 
the  Indian  Agent,  with  the  view  of  spreading  the  whole 
matter  before  them,  and  consulting  with  their  chiefs  as 
to  the  course  it  would  be  most  wise  to  adopt.  The  pro- 
ceedings of  the  council  were  opened  by  Red-Jacket,  who 
addressed  himself  to  Mr.  Granger  thus : — 


r    \ 


'      ■■   ■ 


\ 

1 

\  "1 

it 

i:      [-[j 

1 
1 

1    : 

1    '  t 

1 

I'm 
i 

1 
i 

I: 

i 

it 

r:'! 

1' 
i 

1 

1 

' 

u 

ij 

1      -    i 

i               A 

<i.  i 

■j  1 

1 

1           ;; 

\     1 

ii> 

■  "' 

i 

1 

1 

r 

i 

H  \ 

t 

V- 

•  \ 

u\ 

)< 

/[km 

. 

M 

i-M 

m 

224 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


I     ■ 


I    , 


m      k 


"  Brother  : — We  are  glad  of  having  an  opportunity  once 
more  of  meeting  you  in  council.  We  thank  the  Great  Spirit 
that  has  again  brought  us  together.  This  is  a  full  meeting. 
All  our  head  men  are  present.  Every  village  is  represented 
in  this  council.  Wc  are  pleased  to  find  our  interpreter,  Mr. 
Parish,  is  present.  He  has  attended  all  our  councils  since  the 
last  war,  and  is  well  acquainted  with  all  the  ti'eaties  we  have 
made  with  the  United  States,  The  voice  of  war  has  reached 
our  ears,  and  made  our  minds  gloomy.  We  now  wish  you  to 
communicate  to  us  every  thing  which  your  government  has 
charged  you  to  tell  us  concerning  this  war.  We  shall  listen 
with  attention  to  what  you  have  to  say." 

Mr.  Granger  thereupon  addressed  the  council  at 
length,  in  the  following  words  : — 

"  Brothers  of  the  Six  Nations  : — I  am  happy  to  behold 
so  many  of  you  assembled  together  at  tliis  time.  I  observe 
that  the  cliiefs  of  the  Seneca,  Onondaga,  Cayuga  and  Tuscarora 
nations,  and  some  of  the  Delawarcs,  are  present.  The  Mo- 
hawks, who  live  in  Canada,  are  not  represented,  and  the  Onei- 
das,  living  at  a  distance,  could  not  attend. 

"  Brothers  : — You  will  now  listen  to  what  I  say  : — 

"  At  the  close  of  the  revolutionary  war  the  United  States 
lield  a  treaty  with  the  Six  Nations  at  Fort  Stanwix.  They 
restored  to  you  the  country  of  land  which  they  had  conquered 
from  you  and  the  British,  and  set  you  down  once  more  on  your 
old  .seats.  Several  treaties  have  since  been  made  with  you ; 
but  that  wliicli  ])articulaily  binds  us  together,  was  made  at 
Canandaigua  about  eighteen  years  since. 

"  The  chain  of  friendship  then  formed  has  been  kept  bright 
until  this  time.  In  this  great  length  of  time  nothing  material 
has  hapiiened  to  disturb  the  peace  and  harmony  subsist-ijir  b»>- 
tween  us.  Any  momentary  interruptitms  of  peace  which  have 
taken  ])lace,  have  been  happily  settled  without  injury  to  cither 
party.     Our  friendship  has  remained  unbroken. 


..■'J, 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


"  Brothers  : — The  pro^perity  ami  happiness  of  the  Six  Na- 
tions have  always  been  objects  which  the  United  States  have 
had  in  view. 

"  You  have  enjoyed  with  us  all  the  blessings  which  the 
country  afl'orded,  consistent  with  youi'  mode  iind  habits  ol'  Hv- 
ing.  We  have  grown  up  together  on  this  ishmd.  Tiie  Ignited 
States  are  strong  and  powerl'ul ;  yon  are  few  in  numbers  and 
weak ;  but  as  our  friends,  we  consider  you,  and  your  women 
and  children,  under  our  protection. 

"  BuoTUERs  : — You  have  heretofore  been  told  that  the  con- 
duct of  Cfreat  Britain  toward  us,  might  eventually  lead  to  war. 
That  event  has  fit  length  taken  place.  \V;ir  now  exists  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  the  liritish  nation.  The  injuries 
we  have  received  from  the  British,  have  at  length  forced  us 
into  a  war. 

"  I  will  now  proceed  to  state  to  you  the  reasons  why  we  liave 
been  ccjmpelled  to  take  up  arms. 

"  For  a  number  of  years  past  the  Ihilish  and  French,  who 
live  on  the  other  side  <jf  the  great  waters,  have  been  at  war 
with  each  other,  sliedding  each  otlier's  l)lood.  These  nations 
wislied  us  to  take  a  part  in  tlieir  wnr.  France  wanted  us  to 
fight  against  (Jreat  Ibitain.  (iie;it  Uritain  wanted  us  to  join 
against  b^rance.  But  the  I'nitcd  Slates  did  nut  wi.->Ii  to  take  any 
part  in  their  ([uarrels.  Our  dhjecl  was  to  live  in  peaci;,  and 
trade  with  both  nations.  Notwitlislanding  our  endeavors  (o 
maintain  frii-ndship  with  tlieni,  both  b^ance  and  (Jreat  ibitain 
have  broken  their  treaties  witli  us.  Tliey  have  taken  our  ves- 
sels and  property,  and  irfii-^rd  tc*  restore  tlicni  or  make  com- 
jicnsation  for  tlie  losses  we  sustained. 

"  But  the  British  have  done  us  the  greatest  injury.  Tiiey 
have  taken  out  of  our  vessels  at  least  six  tliousan<l  of  out  own 
people,  put  them  on  board  their  ships  of  war,  and  coinpelled 
them  to  fight  their  battles.  In  lias  situation  our  friends  and 
connexions  are  confined,  oblige d  to  fight  for  the  Ibilish. 

"  BuoTiiEus  :— II' you  consider  t.ie  situation  in  whicli  we 
are  placed,  you  cuiuiol  blame  us  for  going  to  war.     i  will  ask 

2'J 


1 

1 

.j:  . 

i^ 


m 


.(• 


i 


226 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


you  a  question.  Suppose  that  the  Mohawk  Nation,  who  live 
in  Canada,  were  at  war  with  a  nation  of  Indians  at  the  west- 
ward. Both  these  nations  being  your  friends,  you  were  de- 
termined to  take  no  part  in  their  disputes,  but  to  be  at  peace 
with  both, — to  visit  them,  and  trade  with  them  as  usual.  In 
consequence  of  this  determination,  you  should  send  messen- 
gers with  sjieoches  to  inform  them  of  the  system  you  had 
adopted.  But  the  Mohawks  not  satisfied  in  seeing  you  in 
prosperity,  enjoying  the  blessings  of  peace,  visiting  and  trading 
with  their  enemy, — determine  to  make  you  feel  the  evils  of 
war,  unless  you  agree  to  give  up  all  intercourse  with  those 
they  are  at  war  with.  This  you  cannot  consent  to  :  you  want 
the  privilege  of  selling  your  furs  and  skins  where  you  can  find 
the  best  market.  The  Mohawks  still  continue  to  flatter  you, — 
say  they  arc  your  friends, — put  on  smiling  faces  and  speak 
good  words.  But  in  the  mean  time,  while  professing  friend- 
ship toward  you,  they  fall  upon  your  hunting  and  trading  par- 
ties, as  they  travel  back  and  forth, — strip  them  of  their  pro- 
perty,— leave  them  naked  in  the  world,  and  refuse  to  make 
satisfaction.  Not  only  this,  but  they  come  near  your  villages, 
and  thore  murder  your  people, — others  they  take,  when  found 
from  home,  bind  them  fast  and  compel  them  to  go  and  fight 
their  battles. 

"  Brotheiis  : — Could  you  for  a  moment  submit  to  such 
treatment  '/  Would  you  not  all  as  one  rise  from  your  seats,  and 
let  the  enemy  feel  your  vengeance  ]  If  you  are  warriors,  if 
you  are  brave  men,  you  certainly  would.  AVhat  I  have  stated 
is  exactly  our  case.  The  British  have  done  us  all  these  in- 
juries, and  still  continue  to  do  us  wrong  without  a  cause.  Tho 
United  .Slates  have  risen  from  their  seats, — they  have  raised 
their  strong  arm,  and  will  cause  it  to  be  felt. 

"  BuoTHEKs : — I  feel  it  my  duty  at  this  present  time,  to 
point  out  to  you  tho  straight  jmth  in  which  you  ought  to  walk. 
You  well  recollect  tho  advice  given  you  by  the  people  of  tho 
United  States,  at  the  commencement  of  tho  rt^vohuiunary  war 
against  Great  Britain.    You  were  then  reciuestcd  to  stay  at 


s 


til 


^^ 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


227 


home, — to  sit  upon  your  seats  at  your  own  council  fires,  and 
to  take  no  part  in  the  war. 

"  It  wou  .1  have  been  happy  for  you  had  you  followed  this 
good  advice.  But  the  presents  and  fair  speeches  of  the  J3ritish 
poisoned  your  minds.  You  took  up  the  hatchet  against  us, 
and  became  our  enemies.  At  the  close  of  the  war  with 
Britain,  (the  event  you  well  know,)  the  United  States  had  it 
in  their  power  to  cut  you  off  as  a  i)eople,  but  they  took  pity  on 
you,  and  let  you  return  to  your  former  seats. 

"  Your  great  father,  the  President  of  the  seventeen  fires, 
now  gives  his  red  children  the  same  advice  that  was  given  you 
at  the  beginning  of  the  last  war  :  that  is —  That  yuii  take  no 
jyart  in  the  quarrels  of  the  white  people.  Ho  stands  in  no  need 
of  your  assistance.  His  warriors  are  numerous,  like  the  sand 
on  the  shores  of  the  great  lakes,  which  cannot  be  counted. 
He  is  able  to  fight  his  own  battles,  and  requests  you  to  stay  at 
home,  cultivate  your  fields  and  take  care  of  your  property. 
If  you  have  any  regard  for  your  women  and  children, — if  you 
have  any  respect  for  the  country  in  whose  soil  repose  the 
bones  of  your  fathers, — you  will  listen  to  his  advice,  and  keep 
bright  the  chain  of  friendship  between  us. 

"  You  have  been  invited  to  join  the  British  in  this  war. 
Reflect  for  a  moment  on  the  consccjucncc  of  complying  with 
their  request.  You  will  lose  your  property  in  the  United 
States.  We  shall  soon  take  possession  of  Canada.  They 
will  have  no  land  to  sit  you  down  upon.  You  will  have  no- 
thing to  expect  from  our  mercy.  You  will  descivedly,  as  a 
people,  be  cut  ott'  from  the  face  of  the  earth. 

"  The  late  delegation  which  you  sent  to  Canada,  was  told 
that  they  ought  not  to  put  any  confidence  in  tho  I'liitod 
States, — that  if  you  did  we  should  deceive  you, — that  tho  Uni- 
ted States  kept  no  promises  made  to  Indians. 

*'  l^RoTiiERs  : — I  now  ask,  in  what  have  the  United  States 
deceived  you  1  Have  they  not  punctually  paid  your  annuities 
as  they  became  due  %  Have  not  the  Senecas  received  annually 
tho  interest  of  their  money  in  tho  public  funds  ]  Has  not  tho 


\k    \ 


-■■f . 


iffl 


•  I  ."i 


i  ^M 

'     if^f- 

'  1  u  Mm 

228 


LIFK  AND  TIMES 


f        J 


i 


State  of  Ncw-Yorklionestly  fulfilled  lior  engagements  with  the 
Oiicidas,  Onontlagas  ami  C'ayiigas  I  Have  not  the  Tuscavoras 
been  assisted  in  the  sale  of  their  property  iti  North  Carolina, 
and  in  obtaining  a  pleasant  seat,  purchased  of  the  Holland 
Land  Com[)any  ?  I  again  ask,  liave  iiot  the  United  States  ob- 
served good  faith  toward  you  ?  Have  they  deceived  you  in 
any  one  thing?     I  answer,  tliey  have  not. 

"  KnovvlTig,  as  you  do,  that  we  are  your  friends,  will  you 
act  lik(!  children,  and  suffer  yourselves  to  be  imposed  upon  at 
this  time  by  our  enemies  1 

"  Urotheiis  : — Tt  was  our  wish  that  the  Six  Nations  should 
all  bo  agr(;ed  as  one  man,  but  the  Mcjhawks  and  some  few 
others  living  on  the  Ihitisli  side,  have  been  so  foolish  as  to 
declare  in  favor  of  war.  Tlie  good  advice  you  lately  gave 
them,  has  not  been  altcndod  to.  They  are  now  at  Newark  in 
arms  against  tlie  (iiited  States.  I  am  s(ury  they  have  not  lis- 
tened to  good  counsel.  Vou,  however,  have  done  your  duty, 
and  you  are  not  to  blame  for  their  folly.  They  will  soon  find 
they  have  done  wrong,  and  must  suffer  the  consequence. 

"  BiioTiiF.Rs  : — Continue  to  listen. 

"You  have  been  fretpiently  told,  that  in  case  wo  went  to 
war  we  did  not  want  your  assistanc(\  The  same  thinir  has 
tills  (lay  been  re[)eatfd.  Ihit  [  find  some  of  your  yoiuig  men 
are  restless  and  uneasy.  They  ^vish  to  be  with  our  warriors, 
and  I  am  sensible  tiie  chieis  have  not  power  to  control  them. 
As  [  observed  before,  we  waul  not  tlujir  aid,  but  we  believe  it 
better  for  them  to  bo  our  friends  than  our  enemies. 

"If  they  will  not  be  contented  to  stay  at  home,  but  must 
SCO  something  of  a  war,  perhaps  150  or  JiOU  will  lu*  permitted 
to  stand  by  the  side  of  our  warri(n-s,  and  receive  the  same  pay 
and  provisions  which  our  soldiers  receive. 

"  if  tlii'y  should  be  permitted  to  join  our  troops,  they  must 
conform  t(»  our  regulations.  Voui'  mode  of  carrying  on  a  war 
is  different  from  ours.  We  n<'Vt;r  attack  and  make  war  upon 
women  and  chihlren,  nor  on  lliose  who  are  ptjaceably  inclined 
and  have  nothing  to  di-fend  themselves  with.  Such  conduct 
wo  consider  as  cowardly,  und  iiol  becoming  u  warrior. 


n 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


229 


"  Brothers  : — If  you  Imvo  not  sufficient  time  tliis  cvcnui"- 
to  deliberate  on  what  I  have  saiil,  I  will  meet  you  to-morrow, 
or  next  day,  and  receive  your  answer." 

The  Agent  of  the  United  States  having  concluded  his 
speech,  the  council  was  adjourned  until  the  26th,  when 
Red-Jacket  delivered  the  f()llowing  reply: — 


i 


"  Brother  : — We  are  now  prejiared  to  qive  an  answer  to 
the  speech  you  delivered  to  us  in  council  the  other  day.  Wc 
are  happy  to  lind  so  many  of  the  ivhifc  people  present.  We 
arc  not  accustomed  to  transact  important  business  in  the  dark  ! 
We  are  willing  that  the  f'g^d  should  shine  upon  whatever  we 
do.  When  we  speak,  wc;  do  it  with  sincerity,  and  in  a  man- 
ner that  cannot  be  misunderstood. 

"  You  have  been  appointed  by  the  Ignited  States  an  Agent 
for  the  Six  Nations.  We  have  been  requested  to  make  you 
acquainted  with  the  sentiments  of  those  nations  we  represent. 
None  of  the  Mohawks  or  Oneidas,  it  is  well  known,  are  pre- 
sent. The  number  of  treaties  thfit  have  passed  between  the 
Six  Nations  and  the  United  States,  aiijicars  to  be  fresli  in 
your  memory.  We  shnll  only  nunition  to  you  some  things 
that  were  agreed  upon  in  the  treaty  nuide  at  C'anandaigua. 

"  We  were  a  long  time  in  forming  that  treaty,  but  we  at 
length  made  up  our  minds  and  spoi^e  freely.  Mr.  Pickering, 
who  was  then  agent  for  the  United  States,  declared  lo  us  ihiit 
no  breach  .ohould  ever  be  made  in  that  treaty.  \Ve  leplied 
to  him,  if  it  should  ever  be  broken,  you  will  be  the  first  to  do 
it.  We  are  winik.  You  are  strong.  You  arc  a  gicat  ]icople. 
You  can,  if  you  arc  so  disposed,  place  yourselves  under  it  and 
overturn  it, — or,  by  getting  upon  it,  you  can  crush  it  witi;  your 
weight!  Mr.  Pickering  again  declared,  that  this  trenfy  would 
ever  remain  firm  and  unshaken,  that  it  would  bo  as  durable  as 
the  largest  'oclv  to  be  found  in  our  country. 

"  This  treaty  was  afterward  sli(»wn  to  (leiicral  W'nshington. 
He  said  that  ho  was  satisfied  and  pleased  with  what  the  agent 


■i 


;>  r 


m 


'  I'i 


If  hi 


^Vli 


\  Pi 


i 


230 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


.1 


had  done.     He  told  us  that  no  treaty  could  be  formed  that 
■would  bo  more  binding.     He  then  presented  us  with  a  chain, 
which  he  assured  us  would  never  rust,  but  always  remain  bright. 
Upon  this  belt  of  wampum,*  he  placed  a  silver  seal.t     This 
belt  we  always  have  and  always  wish  to  look  upon  as  sacred. 
"  In  the  treaty,  it  was  agreed  that  the  Six  Nations  should 
receive  a  small  annuity,  to  show  the  intention  of  the  United 
States  to  continue  friendly  with  them.     This  has  been  com- 
plied with,     li  was  also  agieed  that  if  any  injury  or  damage 
should  bo  done  on  either  side,  satisfaction  should  be  made  to 
the  party  injured.     We  were  a  long  time  in  conference  be- 
fore we  could  make  up  our  minds  upon  one  article  of  the 
treaty, — what  punishment  should  be  inflicted  for  the  crime  of 
murder  1  Mr.  Pickering  said  it  should  be  hanging.     We  told 
him  that  would  never  do  :  that  if  a  white  man  killed  an  Indian, 
the  Indians  would  not  be  permitted  to  hang  the  white  man, — 
the  sacrifice  would  be  considered  too  great  for  killing  an  In- 
dian !  We  at  length  agreed  that  conciliatory  measures  should 
be  I'csorted  to,  such  as  would  give  satisfaction  to  all  parties. 

"  In  cases  of  theft,  as  in  stealing  horses,  cattle,  &c.,  it  was 
agreed  that  restitution  should  be  made.  In  this  article,  the 
whites  have  transgressed  twice,  where  the  Indians  have  once. 
As  often  as  you  will  mention  one  instance  in  which  we  have 
wronged  you,  we  will  tell  you  of  two  in  which  you  have  de- 
frauded us ! 

"  I  have  related  these  articles  of  the  treaty  to  show  you  that 
it  still  remains  clear  in  our  recollection,  and  we  now  declare 
to  you,  in  presence  of  all  here  assembled,  that  we  will  con- 
tinue to  hold  fast  the  chain  which  connects  us  together.  Some 
who  first  took  hold  of  it  are  gone  !  but  others  will  supply  their 
place. 

"  Wo  regret,  extremely,  that  any  disturbance  should  have 
taken  place  among  the  white  people.     Mischief  has  com- 


*  Holding  np  a  belt  of  wampum  curiously  wrought. 

t  Upou  wliich  ail  eagle  was  engraved,  rcpresonling  the  United  States. 


Jl' 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


231 


menced.  We  are  now  told  that  war  has  been  declared  against 
Great  Britain.  The  reasons  for  it  are  unknown  to  us.  The 
Six  Nations  are  placed  in  an  unpleasant  situation.  A  part  of 
them  are  in  Canada,  and  the  remainder  in  the  United  States. 

"  Whilst  we  were  endeavoring  to  persuade  those  who  live 
in  Canada  to  remain  peaceable  and  quiet,  the  noise  of  war 
suddenly  sounded  in  our  ears.  We  v/ere  told  that  all  commu- 
nication between  us  and  them  would  be  prevented.  We  have 
since  heard  that  they  have  taken  up  arms.  We  are  very  sorry 
to  hear  of  this.  They  are  our  brothers  and  relations,  and  we 
do  not  v/ish  that  their  blood  should  be  spilt,  when  there  is  so 
li.*'     o  n  for  it.     We  hope    '       "ho  passage  is  not  so 

close ly  sto^j^._d  but  that  a  small  uuor  may  still  be  open  by 
which  we  may  again  have  an  opportunity  of  seeing  our  bro- 
thers, and  of  persuading  them  to  take  no  part  in  a  war  in 
which  they  have  nothing  to  gain. 

"  We  know  the  feelings  of  the  greater  portion  of  them.  We 
therefore  believe,  that  if  we  have  another  opportunity,  we  can 
persuade  them  to  have  nothing  to  do  with  this  war.  Our 
minds  are  fully  made  up  on  this  subject,  and  we  repeat,  that 
it  is  our  wish  to  see  them  once  more,  and  to  give  them  our  ad- 
vice about  the  path  they  ought  to  travel. 

"  You  (Mr.  Parish,)  are  going  to  the  eastward ;  you  will 
visit  the  Oneidas.  Relate  to  them  faithfully  what  has  taken 
place  in  this  council ;  tell  them  all  we  have  said,  and  rc([uest 
that  a  deputation  of  their  chiefs  may  be  sent  to  attend  our 
council  here.     We  wish  that  you  would  return  with  them." 

[The  orator  then  brought  forward  the  belt  which  he 
had  before  held  up  in  his  hand,  and  requested  Mr. 
Granger  and  the  others  present  to  look  at  it  and  observe 
whether  it  was  not  the  one  that  had  been  presented  to 
the  Six  Nations  by  General  Washington.  He  likewise 
held  up  another  belt,  much  larger,  of  different  colors, 


,r 


I-    A 


M    *! 


■  i-l 


I  'X 


: 

i, 


1            ! 
i 

■  ! 

■'_  ? 

'     ■  ¥ 

0 

■        f!    ■■• 

:.„ 

1                     ] 

i( 

\\ 

1 

;   J  f 

L 

it  s" 

:            M 

1  m 

Ll''»IJiill 

jM 

1 

HI  iM 

r 

m    " ', 

1  h:- 

i 

ogo 


LIFE  AND  TIM"a 


which   nppcared  to   be   very  ancient,   and  then  con- 
tinued : — ] 

"  Brother  : — I  will  now  state  to  you  the  meaning  of  this 
bolt.  A  long-  time  ajjo  the  Six  Nations  had  formed  an  union. 
They  had  no  means  of  Avriting  their  treaties  on  paper,  and  of 
preserving  them  in  the  manner  the  white  people  do.  We 
therefore  made  this  belt,  which  shows  that  the  Six  Nations 
have  ])ound  themselves  lirnily  together;  that  it  is  their  deter- 
mhiation  to  remain  united  ;  that  they  will  never  do  any  thing 
contrary  to  the  interests  of  the  whole ;  but  that  they  will  al- 
ways act  toward  each  other  like  brothers. 

"  Whenever,  for  the  future,  you  see  a  small  number  of  our 
people  meeting  together  to  consult  about  any  matter  of  trifling 
account,  we  desire  that  you  would  pay  no  attention  to  it.  It 
may  give  you  uncnisiness,  when  we  have  no  intention  to  injure 
you.  This  hajjpened  but  a  few  days  ago :  It  seems  that  a 
white  man  and  two  or  three  Indians,  living  on  the  same  creek, 
had  a  small  conversation,  which  tlie  mischievous  talked  about 
until  the  whole  country  was  in  an  uproar,  and  many  families 
left  their  country  and  homes  in  consequence. 

"  The  council  held  some  time  since  at  .Batavia,  was  unauthor- 
ized by  us,  and  we  now  declare  to  you  that  none  have  a 
right  to  hold  council  any  where  except  at  this  place,  around 
the  great  council  fire  of  the  Six  Nations.* 

"  We  hope  that  you  will  not  accept  of  any  of  our  warriors, 
unless  they  arc  permitted  by  our  great  council  to  offer  them- 
selves to  you.  And  wc  should  be  sorry  indeed  if  any  of  the 
whites  should  entice  our  young  warriors  to  take  up  arms. 
We  mention  these  things  to  siiow  you  that  we  wish  to  guard 
against  every  thing  that  may  interrupt  our  good  under- 
standing. 

"  Brother  : — W(;  hope  that  what  has  been  said  will  be 

*  TliiTu  art"  III)  rccurJs,  that  I  am  awaru  of,  coiiuuctcd  with  the  council  horo 
refurrcd  to. 


i 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


233 


generally  known  to  the  white  people.  Let  every  one  recol- 
lect and  give  a  faithful  account  of  it.  We  wish  them  to  know 
that  we  are  peaceably  disposed  towards  the  United  States,  and 
that  we  are  determined  to  keep  bright  the  chain  of  friendship 
that  we  formed  with  them  at  Canandaigua. 

"  Brother  : — We  have  one  thing  more  to  which  we  would 
wish  to  call  your  attention.  AVe  present  you  the  papers* 
which  secure  to  us  our  annuities  from  the  United  States.  We 
would  be  glad  to  know  if  this  war  would  affect  our  interests  in 
that  quarter.  We  also  desire  that  you  would  inform  us 
whether  the  monies  we  have  deposited  in  the  [late]  Bank  of 
the  United  States  will  be  les?  secure,  than  if  this  war  had  not 
taken  place." 

To  which  Mr.  Granger,  after  thankuig  them  for  their 
general  and  punctual  attendance,  thus  rejoined  : — 

"  Brothers  : — You  have  this  day  brought  forward  the  large 
white  belt,  given  you  at  Canandaigua.  Your  speaker  has  ex- 
plained the  leading  particulars  of  the  treaty  made  at  that  time. 
I  am  much  pleased  to  fin  /our  minds  so  deeply  impressed 
with  them.  I  now  repeat  to  you  that  the  United  States  will, 
on  their  part,  hold  fast  of  the  treaty  ;  they  wish  you  to  do  the 
same.  Should  it  be  broken  on  your  part,  the  United  States 
will  no  longer  consider  themselves  bound  by  it. 

"  Brothers  : — It  appears  that  you  are  still  desirous  of  send- 
ing to  Grand  River,  to  endeavor  to  prevail  on  your  brethren 
in  that  quarter  to  remain  at  peace.  An  undertaking  of  this 
kind  will  be  of  little  use.  They  will  only  fill  your  heads 
with  idle  talk,  and  poison  your  minds  against  the  United 
States.  Perhaps  after  crossing  Niagara  river,  you  will  not  be 
permitted  to  go  any  farther.  Still,  should  you  insist  upon 
it,  permission  will  be  granted  to  four  or  five  of  your  chiefs 
to  go  over,  with  such  instructions  as  you  shall  think  pro- 
per to  give  them." 

*  Handing  the  agent  a  email  bundle  of  papers. 

30 


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234 


LIFE  AND     TMi 


"  But  should  your  young  men  crost.  3r  and  join  our  ene- 
mies, they  must  never  expect  to  be  allowed  to  set  their  feet 
on  our  shores  again  as  friends.  Rest  assured  they  will  be 
severely  punished  for  it. 

"  With  respect  to  the  property  you  have  placed  in  the  hands 
of  the  United  States  you  have  nothing  to  fear,  it  will  be  fully 
as  secure  as  if  this  war  had  not  happened.  Your  annuities 
will  be  paid  you  as  formerly,  and  your  bank  stock  be  as  pro- 
ductive as  usual. 

"  I  now  return  you  my  thanks  for  the  good  attendance  you 
have  given  at  this  council.  I  feel  pleased  that  you  have  again 
come  forward  and  renewed  the  covenant  of  friendship,  that 
you  have  once  more  declared  your  steady  attachment  to  the 
United  Stales. 

"  Your  friend,  Mr.  Parish,  will  soon  go  to  the  eastward, 
where  he  will  see  such  of  your  brethren  as  were  not  present 
at  this  council.  In  a  sh-ort  time  he  will  return,  and  remain 
here,  if  he  should  be  wanted,  through  the  summer." 

The  earnestness  with  which  the  council,  through  the 
mouth  of  their  speaker,  had  urged  their  request  for 
leave  to  send  yet  another  peaceable  m'^ssage  to  their 
brothers,  the  Mohawks,  induced  the  agent  to  grant  the 
desired  permission ;  although  he  had  not  the  least  con- 
fidence in  the  measure.  He  was  right  in  his  conjec- 
tures. A  deputation  of  five  chiefs  proceeded  to  Lewis- 
ton,  and  application  was  made  to  General  Brock,  then 
in  command  of  the  British  forces  on  the  opposite  shore 
of  the  Niagara,  that  they  might  be  allowed  to  land  in 
his  Majesty's  dominions.  After  deliberating  two  days 
upon  the  request,  the  deputation  was  permitted  to  cross 
over  and  hold  a  consultation  with  some  of  the  Mohawk 
chiefs.     They  did  so ;  but  the  conference  was  brief, 


the 


OF  RED-JACKET, 


235 


and  the  object  was  not  accomphshed.  The  Mohawks 
had  taken  up  the  hatchet,  and  were  resolved  not  to  bury 
it ;  and  the  friendly  messengers  of  the  Senecas  were 
ordered  to  return- 
But  the  Senecas  did  not  long  succeed  in  maintaining 
their  neutrahty.  The  young  men,  as  already  inti- 
mated, were  restless  from  the  moment  of  the  declara- 
tion of  war ;  and  the  soul-stirring  music,  the  glittering 
panoply  and  pomp  of  war,  speedily  wrought  so  power- 
fully upon  the  feehngs,  and  indeed  the  natural  propen- 
sities, of  the  older  chiefs,  that  they  rather  sought  occa- 
sion to  declare  hostilities  on  their  own  behalf, — con- 
sidering themselves  still  an  independent  nation.  That 
occasion  was  fast  approaching.  Not  long  after  the  com- 
mencement of  hostilities,  it  was  rumored  at  Buffalo, 
and  among  the  Senecas,  that  t^e  enemy  had  taken  pos- 
session of  Grand  Island,  appertaining  to  the  United 
States,  and  then  owned  by  the  Senecas.  Red-Jacket 
immediately  convoked  a  council  of  his  people,  and  in- 
vited Mr.  Granger  to  attend  there  for  consultation.  Af- 
ter stating  the  case  to  the  latter,  the  orator  avowed  the 
purpose  of  the  Senecas  in  the  following  brief  but  ener- 
getic speech : — 

"  Brother  :  You  have  told  ns  that  we  have  nothing  to  do 
with  the  war  that  has  taken  place  between  you  and  the  British. 
But  we  find  that  the  war  has  come  to  our  doors.  Our  proper- 
ty is  taken  possession  of  by  the  British  and  their  Indian  friends. 
It  is  necessary  now  for  us  to  take  up  the  business,  defend  our 
property,  and  drive  the  enemy  from  it.  If  we  sit  still  upon 
our  seats,  and  take  no  means  of  redress,  the  British,  according 
to  the  customs  of  you  white  people,  will  hold  it  by  conquest. 


ti|i 


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236 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


nil 


And  should  you  conquer  the  Canadas,  you  will  claim  it  upon 
the  same  principles,  as  though  you  had  conquered  it  from  the 
British.  We  therefore  request  pemiission  to  go  with  our  war- 
rioi  .,  and  drive  oif  those  bad  people,  and  take  possession  of 
our  lands." 

The  request  was  granted,  and  at  a  subsequent  meet- 
ing of  the  council,  strengthened  by  a  larger  attendance, 
a  formal  declaration  of  war  was  issued  in  the  following 
terms  : — 

"  We,  the  chiefs  and  councillors  of  the  Six  Nations  of  In- 
dians, residing  in  the  State  of  New- York,  do  hereby  proclaim  to 
all  the  war-chiefs  and  warriors  of  the  Six  Nations,  that  war  is 
declared  on  our  part  against  the  provinces  of  Upper  and 
Lower  Canada.  Therefore,  we  hereby  command  and  advise 
all  the  war-chiefs  and  warriors  of  the  Six  Nations  to  call  forth 
immediately  the  warriors  under  them,  and  put  them  in  motion 
to  protect  their  rights  and  liberties,  which  our  brethren,  the 
Americans,  are  now  defending."* 

No  speech  of  Red-Jacket  delivered  at  this  council 
has  been  preserved,  but  from  the  address  of  one  of  the 
oldest  warriors  present,  it  would  appear  that  it  was 
their  expectation  to  put  as  many  as  three  thousand 
braves  upon  the  war-path. t  But  there  surely  must 
have  been  some  mistake  in  this  computation,  since  the 
whole  Iroquois  confederacy  was  never  able  to  call  forth 
so  large  a  number  of  warriors,  even  in  the  palmy  days 
of  Sir  William  Johnson ;  and  at  the  time  under  conside- 
ration, the  number  of  warriors  within  the  confines  of  the 
State  of  New-York, — Senecas,    Oneidas,  Onondagas, 

•  Drake  and  Thatcher.  t  Drake  and  Thatcher. 


OF  RED-JACKET.  237 

Cayiigas  and  Tuscaroras,  all  included, — could  not  have 
exceeded  two  thousand  fighting  men.  Not  more  than  a 
fourth  of  that  number  ever  took  the  field  at  any  one 
time  during  the  war  of  1S12.  Still,  the  friendship  of 
the  nation  was  unwavering,  and  considerable  bodies  of 
their  warriors  were  occasionally  in  the  service  of  the 
United  States  upon  that  frontier,  until  near  the  close  of 
the  contest.  The  Mohawks.,  and  the  other  red  allies  of 
England,  it  is  true,  endeavored  to  poison  their  minds 
with  disaffection,  for  which  purpose  emissarie-;  were 
occasionally  discovered  amongst  them,  but  with"  ut  ef- 
fect. 

Yet,  notwithstanding  their  preparaLions,  and  their 
formal  declaration  of  hostilities, — the  firti  Indian  de- 
claration of  the  kind,  it  is  believed,  ever  issued  'r  ivri- 
ting, — they  seem  not  actually  to  have  ent-^red  the  field 
as  the  allies  of  the  Americans  during  tha;  year, — at 
least  such  is  the  presumption  from  the  following  cir- 
cumstances :  After  the  brilliant,  though  in  the  end,  dis- 
astrous affair  of  Queenston,  and  after  the  relinquish- 
ment of  the  command  of  that  frontier  bj  General  "Van 
Rensselaer,  General  Alexander  Smyth  succeeded  to 
the  station.  He  made  preparations  to  retrieve  the  for- 
tunes lost  at  Queenston,  but  his  demonstrations  were 
failures,  and  the  results  proved  him  to  be  a  man  of 
words  rather  than  of  deed,:  dis  name  is  only  here 
introduced  because  of  the  declaration  contained  in  one 
of  his  inflated  proclamntions,  illustrating  the  fact  just 
asserted,  that  the  Sei.ecas  were  not  in  actual  service  in 
that  year.     In  the  proclamation  referred  to,  General 


(■ 


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238 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


I       I 


Smyth,  in  order  to  stimulate  the  mihtia  into  the  field, 
told  them  iliat  "  even  the  Indians  of  the  friendly  Six 
Nations  had  offered  their  services,  but  that,  through  re- 
gard to  the  cause  of  humanity,  he  had  refused  to  follow 
a  disgraceful  example  by  letting  loose  these  barbarous 
warriors  upon  the  inliabitants  of  Canada."* 

No  corresponding  feelings  had  deterred  the  enemy 
from  cm])loying  Indians,  and  using  them  at  every  op- 
portunity. It  was,  therefore,  at  length  thought  advisa- 
ble by  the  government  of  the  United  States  to  bring  the 
same  description  of  warriors  into  the  field,  though  not 
into  battle,  if  that  alternative  could  be  avoided.  The 
Spring  of  1813  Ibund  Major-General  Lewis  in  com- 
mand of  the  American  fortress  of  Niagara ;  and  it  oc- 
curred to  that  officer,  that  inasmuch  as  the  relationship 
between  the  Mohawks,  and  odiers  of  the  Six  Nations 
who  had  joined  their  settlement  upon  the  Grand  River, 
and  the  Senecas,  Cayugas  and  Onondagas  upon  the 
American  side,  was  near  and  intimate,  they  might  feel 
reluctant  to  come  into  conflict,  brother  ag:iinst  brother. 
The  idea  was  accordingly  suggested,  that  the  actual  em- 
ployment of  the  Senecas  might  possibly  induce  the  Mo- 
hawks to  retire, — in  which  case  the  Senecas  were  forth- 
with to  have  been  dismissed.  With  this  object  the  Se- 
neca warriors  were  invited  to  meet  General  Lewis  at 
Niagara,  and  they  responded  to  the  invitation,  to  the 
number  of  from  three  to  four  hunilrcd,  armed,  painted, 
and  with  distcnidcd  nostrils  breathing  eagerly  for  the 


11.  M.  Orcckcnriilgu's  Hiatury  uf  Uio  War. 


■}  h    i^-' "'■'• 


OF  RKD-JACKET. 


239 


contest.  They  were  led  by  Farmer's-Brother,  the  most 
noble  Indian  in  form  and  mould,  in  carriage  and  in  soul, 
of  that  generation  of  his  race.*  The  forest  warriors 
were  received  by  General  Lewis,  and  addressed  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  views  already  indicated.  But  very 
great  was  the  disappointment  of  the  Indians.  They 
had  supposed  themselves  invited  to  a  feast  of  blood  in 
earnest,  and  their  dissatisfaction  at  the  suggestions  of 
the  General,  who  intended  to  use  them  rather  to  pre- 
vent than  to  participate  in  fighting,  was  but  ill  concealed, 
if  indeed  concealment  was  intended.  Their  counte- 
nances fell ;  their  murmurs  were  deep  and  strong  ;  and 
they  left  the  fort  with  a  degree  of  displeasure  bordering 
upon  indignation.  Red-Jacket  was  among  them  on  this 
occasion,  and  was  as  usual  their  orator ;  but  he  appeared 
not  in  the  character  of  a  war-chief,  being  now  the  head 
sachem  or  civil  maoistrate  of  his  nation. t 

But  fastidiousness  in  regard  to  the  employment  of 
this  description  of  force  by  the  Americans  soon  ceased 
to  be  a  virtue.  The  campaign  of  that  year  against  Up- 
per Canada  was  auspiciously  commenced  by  the  cap- 
ture of  York,  on  the  27th  of  April.  The  ])lan  of  this 
brilliant  exploit  was  conceived  by  General  Pike, 
whose  blood  was   a  dear   purchase   of   the   triumph. 

*  Tho  opiiiiun  and  ncnrly  the  same  language  of  Colonel  William  J,  Worth,  of 
tho  army,  who  nt  tlii>  time  was  in  tho  stafi'  of  General  Lcwi«,  ami  from  whose 
cunviTsations  tho  fuctH  ooiu'eriiinf;  tho  liuliun  service  upon  the  Niagoro  frontier 
in  the  campaignit  of  1013 — 1014,  have  in  purl  hcon  ilinwn. 

t  In  tho  account  of  the  great  treaty  at  Cannnilui^Miii,  it  has  been  seen  how 
jealous  the  Indians  were  of  the  power  of  their  war-chiofH.  Uut  that  was  a  time 
of  peace  In  peace  the  voice  of  the  chief  snclicni  is  ])ot('ntiiil.  In  war  ho  is 
but  a  counsellor,  while  the  war-chiof  becomes  thu  dictator. 


■    9 


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240 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


This  achievement  was  followed,  a  month  afterward,  by 
the  conquest  of  forts  George  and  Erie.  Still,  these  suc- 
cesses not  being  followed  up  with  corresponding  vigor, 
a  war  of  outposts  succeeded  in  that  quarter,  continuing 
through  the  season,  unattended  by  any  important  re- 
sults. "  On  the  8th  of  July  a  severe  skirmish  was 
brought  on,  in  which  nearly  the  whole  force  on  each 
side  was  engaged,  without  any  thing  of  moment  result- 
ing from  it.  An  incident,  nevertheless,  occurred  which 
exasperated  the  Americans  to  a  greater  degree  than  any 
thing  that  had  previously  transpired  in  that  quarter  du- 
ring the  war.  Lieutenant  Eldridge,  a  gallant  and  ac- 
com})lislied  youth,  with  about  forty  men,  was  drawn  by 
his  impetuosity  too  far,  and  was  surrounded  by  British 
troops  and  Indians.  The  greater  part  resisted  until 
they  were  killed ;  but  Lieutenant  Eldridge  and  ten 
others  were  taken  prisoners,  and  never  afterward  heard 
of.  The  Ijodies  of  the  slain  were  treated  in  the  most 
shocking  manner  by  the  Indirms.  Their  heads  were 
split  open,  and  their  hearts  torn  from  tlieir  bodies. 
General  Boyd,  considering  the  forbearance  hitherto 
practised  in  declining  the  aid  of  Indian  allies  as  no 
longer  justifiable,  and  by  way  of  preventing  a  recurrence 
of  such  barbarities,  accepted  the  services  of  four  hun- 
dred Senecas,  under  Henry  O'Bail,  the  Young  Corn- 
planter.*  But  it  was  positively  stipulated  that  the  un- 
resisting and  defenceless  should  not  be  hurt,  and  that 
no  scalps  should  be  takcn."t 

*  This  yimiig  cliief  Imd  tccn  pnftinlly  pducotrd  in  Philmlclphia;   but  not 
liking  tlio  rcstniintg  of  civiliwtion,  ho  had  again  roumci!  the  blanket, 
t  Dreckenridge'«  History  of  the  War. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


241 


i\ 


The  first  affair  in  which  these  auxiharies  took  an 
active  part  in  the  contest,  was  the  defence  of  Blacii 
Hock  and  Buffalo  against  an  attack  by  the  British 
troops,  in  July,  1813  ;  and,  although  in  proportion  to  the 
numbers  engaged,  it  was,  both  in  its  style  of  execution 
and  its  issue,  one  of  the  most  brilhant  and  useful  achieve- 
ments of  the  war,  it  was  but  litde  noticed  either  in  the 
army  despatches,  or  in  the  public  journals,  by  reason  of 
its  having  occurred  at  a  time  when  there  was  a  sort  of 
interregnum,  or  shifting  of  commands,  between  (Jeucrals 
Dearborn,  Lewis  and  Boyd ;  and  the  public  attention,  as 
well  as  that  of  the  army,  was  engrossed  with  the  scenes, 
far  from  creditable  to  the  American  arms,  which  were 
enacting  at  the  Beaver  Dams,  Cross  Roads,  and  other 
places  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  head  (juurters.* 

After  the  capture  of  Fort  George,  in  May,  (Jcneral 
Dearborn  withdnnv  nearly  the  whole  of  his  il)rce3  I'rom 
the  upper  parts  of  the  Niagara  River,  to  the  support  of 
his  position  at  Fort  Niagara;  leaving  the  provisions, 
naval  stores  and  equipments,  collected  for  the  squadron 
with  which  Commodore  Perry,  soon  after,  did  such  sig- 
nal execution,  in  the  ware-houses  at  Black  Rf)ck  ;  and 
also  a  large  supply  of  provisions  and  quarter-master's 
stores  l()r  the  army,  at  Buffido, — wholly  unprotected. 

On  being  strongly  urged  by  those  who  were  more 
conversant  witli  the  affiirs  of  the  frontier,  and  the  j)ro- 


I'  1 


•  Till-  aduirs  lioro  rrfprred  to  wnn;  tho  disromfiuirc  oml  cn|(livity  of  (icnrrali 
WimliT  iind  ClmiulU'f,  cit)  llio  m<iriiiiig  of  June  4tli,  1313,  unil  ilu-  suil  iiiul  hiinii- 
liatiiig  ilud'at  ol  Colonel  BocMllcr,  at  the  Uoavcr  Dnttiit,  on  the  23il  of  June, 
by  a  sntkll  |i(irty  uf  Uritish  troops  and  a  few  hundred  Mohawkn. 

SI 


r  n 


a  t 


'I 


'     V 


242 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


J'      ! 


bable  views  of  the  enemy,  than  himself,  General  Dear- 
born ordered  a  guard  of  eight  or  ten  artillerists  to  take 
charge  of  the  block-house  at  Black  Rock,  and  made  a 
call  for  five  hundred  of  the  neighboring  militia, — about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  or  two  hundred  of  whom  arrived 
early  in  July,  and  were  stationed  near  the  ware-houses 
at  Black  Rock,  under  command  of  Major  P.  Adams, 
who  was  furnished  with  two  or  three  pieces  of  artillery. 
For  Buffalo  he  ordered  about  ninety  or  one  hundred 
regular  tro(jps,  Ijeing  a  body  of  infantry  and  dragoon  re- 
cruits on  their  march  from  the  south  to  head  quarters, 
undi!r  Captain  (now  Colonel)  Cummings.  Besides 
which,  Mr.  C ranger,  the  Indian  Agent,  was  directed  to 
engage  as  many  Seneca  warriors  as  would  consent  to 
remain  in  camp.  At  the  same  time  requesting  Ccneral 
Peter  B.  Porter,  who  was  then  residing  at  his  liouse  in 
Black  Rock,  to  take  command  of  the  wliole,  in  case  of 
an  emergency. 

Notwitlistanding  this  show  of  force,  an  expedition  was 
fitted  out  against  these  places,  at  the  British  head-quar- 
ters on  Limdy's  Lane,  and  placed  under  the  command 
of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bishop,  of  the  forty-first  regiment, 
comprising  three  hundred  regulars  of  his  own  regiment, 
and  a  body  of  Provincials  and  volunteers,  under  Colo- 
nel T.  Clark  ;  and  making  in  the  whole  a  force  estima- 
ted at  four  hundred. 

This  detachment  embarked  in  boats  at  Chippewa, 
early  in  the  (evening  of  the  10th  of  July;  and,  passing 
up  the  Niagara,  landed  in  the  course  of  the  night  on  the 
American  shore,  two  or  three  mile^^i  below  Black  Kuck ; 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


243 


and  soon  after  daylight  on  the  11th,  surprised  the  en- 
campment of  Major  Adams,  who  lied  to  BulFalo  with 
his  miUtia,  leaving  his  artillery  witii  its  ammunition  on 
the  ground,  without  taking  the  precaution  to  disable  it. 

The  enemy,  after  setting  fire  to  the  marine  and  mili- 
tary barracks  and  block-house,  and  ordering  breakfast 
at  General  Porter's  house  for  their  principal  officers,  (lit- 
tle anticipating  that  a  less  palatable  one  was  preparing 
for  them  in  the  field,)  proceeded  to  the  plunder  of  the 
inhabitants  as  well  as  of  the  public  stores,  assisted  by 
constant  reinforcements  of  men  and  boats  from  the  Bri- 
tish shore. 

General  Porter,  after  a  narrow  escape  from  his  own 
house,   and   an   unsuccessful   attempt   to   reach   INIajor 
Adams's  camp,  retired  on  foot  toward  Buffalo  ;  but  be- 
fore  reaching  there  was  met  by  Captain  Cummings, 
who,  having  heard  the  alarm,  was  promptly  advancing 
with  his  command  to  the  support  of  Black  Rock.     After 
directing  the  captain  to  proceed  to  an  open  ground  be- 
tween the  two  villages,  and  there  to  hah.  until  a  suffi- 
cient force  could  be  collected  to  justify  an  attack  on  the 
enemy;  and  after  supplying  himself  with  a  horse  and 
ecjuipmcnits  taken  from  one  of  the  captain's  dragoons, 
the  general  left  him  for  Buffalo;  and,  in  the  course  of 
an  iiour  and  a  half,  rejoined  him  with  about  ninety  or  a 
hundred  of  Major  Adams's  militia,  who  had  retreated  by 
the  lid<e  route,  and  been  kept  together  by  their  olficers, 
and  about  fifty  volunteer  citizens  of  Buffalo,  who  were 
found  in  the  streets  "taking  preparations  to  abandon  the 
town  with  their  effects. 


■I 


I 


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I   '1 


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• 

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'  '■ .  * 

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I  m. 


ill 


244 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


Captain  Cummings  having,  in  the  meantime,  ascer- 
tained by  his  videttes  that  the  enem^', — that  is  to  say,  their 
three  hundred  regular  troops,  their  volunteers  being  en- 
gaged in  plundering, — were  in  possession  of  the  com- 
manding position  left  by  Major  Adams,  and  prepared 
for  defence,  General  Porter  determined  to  divide  his 
force  into  three  parts,  and  by  a  simultaneous  attack 
from  three  different  points,  throw  the  enemy  into  confu- 
sion, and  prevent  the  effective  use  of  their  artillery. 
The  smallest  of  these  divisions  consisted  of  but  twenty 
resolute  volunteers,  who  were  directed  to  associate 
themselves  with  a  body  of  Indian  warriors,  understood 
to  be  gathering  in  the  woods  a  short  distance  in  ad- 
vance,— provided  the  Indians  would  consent  to  join 
them, — and  take  a  position,  unobserved,  in  a  deep  ravine 
close  upon  the  enemy's  left,  remain  concealed  until  the 
action  commenced,  and  then  raise  the  war-whoop  and 
rush  forward.  These  Indians,  numbering  between 
thirty  and  forty,  did  join,  behaving  throughout  in  the 
most  admirable  manner. 

By  a  bold  and  united  attack  with  these  forces,  the 
enemy  at  8  o'clock  in  the  morning,  after  a  spirited  re- 
sistance of  a  few  minutes,  were  beaten,  routed  and  driven 
in  great  confusion  to  the  neighborhood  of  their  boats. 
Here  they  again  rallied  with  their  entire  force,  and  with 
the  apparent  intention  of  renewing  the  fight.  But  being 
again  attacked  by  the  united  and  organized  force  of  the 
assailants,  fled  with  precipitation  into  their  boats,  taking 
with  them  most  of  their  wounded,  and  leaving  eight  or 
ten  dead  on  the  field,  and  sixteen  or  eighteen  prisoners, 


'M 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


245 


among  whom  was  Captain  Saunders  of  the  fortj'-first, 
badly  wounded. 

But  their  principal  loss  was  after  they  had  entered 
their  boats,  particularly  the  last,  which,  besides  some 
sixty  men,  contained  most  of  their  officers.  The  pursuit 
was  so  close  that  some  of  the  American  warriors  actually 
plunged  into  the  water,  seized  upon  the  gunwales  of  the 
boat,  and  would  have  brought  it  to  shore  but  ibr  the 
fire  from  the  rear,  which  obhged  them  to  desist.  The 
occupants  of  the  boat  made  great  effitrts  at  first  to  gain 
an  offing  the  river,  but  the  firing  from  the  shore  be- 
came so  intense  that  they  dropped  their  oars  and  hoisted 
signals  for  surrender ;  in  consequence  of  which,  the  firing 
in  a  few  minutes  ceased.  Taking  advantage  of  this  in- 
terval, they  dropped  down  the  river  with  the  current, 
followed  ])ari  "passu  by  the  troops  on  shore,  making  in 
the  meantime  some  slight  movements  with  their  oars, 
as  if  to  return  to  shore,  and  proclaiming  their  inability  to 
do  more  by  reason  of  their  disabled  state,  until  they 
reached  the  upper  point  of  Squaw  Island,  when,  by  a 
sudden  and  vigorous  effort,  they  sheered  their  boat  to  the 
outside  of  the  island,  and  soon  escaped  under  its  pro- 
tection ;  but  not  without  again  suffering  from  a  renewal 
of  the  fire.  The  apology  afterward  given  for  this  act  of 
bad  faith  was,  that  the  soldiers  in  the  boat  declared  that 
they  had  seen  Captain  Saunders  tomahawked  and 
scalped  by  the  Indians,  after  he  had  surrendered  ;  and 
that  they  could  have  expected  no  better  fate  il"  they  liad 
done  the  same. 

Colonel  Bishop  and  several  of  his  officers  were  slain 


>:f 


V 


m 


k  >^  . 


4', 


i 


,i     1' 


'•1 

1 

I 

i. 

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1 

, ' 

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246 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


I!  1 


in  their  boats,  the  former  having  received  a  severe  but 
not  mortal  wound  wliile  on  horseback  in  the  field,  and 
four  or  five  others  after  he  had  embarked,  of  which  he 
died  in  the  course  of  the  day. 

The  Indians  throughout  this  affair  displayed  the  most 
admirable  tact  and  gallantry,  and  evinced  no  disposition 
to  commit  acts  of  barbarity  on  the  prisoners  or  the 
slain, — other  than  to  take  the  sc  ilps  of  the  latter, 
had  they  been  permitted,  according  tr  their  usages  in 
war.  When  passing  Captain  Samders,  they  divested 
him,  in  the  gentlest  manner,  of  his  cap,  epaulettes,  sword 
and  belt,  but  offered  him  no  personrd  insalt.  He  was 
wounded  by  a  rilie  ball  passing  through  his  chest  and 
lungs,  which  it  was  not  supposed  he  could  survive,  and 
a  musket  shot  shattering  liis  wrist ;  but  he  had  no  cut 
or  mark  of  the  knife  or  the  tomahawk. 

He  was  carried,  after  the  action,  by  the  Indians,  in 
blankets  to  General  Porter's  house,  where  he  was  suf- 
fered to  remain,  under  the  kindest  treatment, — accompa- 
nied by  his  wife,  who  was  written  for  at  his  anxious  re- 
quest,— for  two  or  three  weeks,  when  he  was  sent  to  the 
depot  at  Willlamsville,  and  is  now  a  British  pensioner. 

The  whole  loss  of  the  British, — whose  numerical  force 
exceeded  that  of  the  Americans,  in  that  expedition, — 
was  estimated  at  one  hundred,  inclusive  of  killed, 
wounded  and  prisoners ;  while  the  American  loss  was 
only  one  sergeant  and  three  or  four  privates  of  the  mili- 
tia, killed,  and  as  many  more  wounded  ;  and  Young- 
King,  the  leader  of  the  Indians,  and  one  of  his  warriors 
badly  wounded.     The  disproportionate  loss  of  the  mih- 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


247 


tia,  compared  with  the  regulars  and  Buffido  volunteers, 
was  the  consequence  of  their  having  hcen  permitted  to 
retrieve  the  reputation  they  had  lo.st  hy  the  retreat,  by 
taking  the  advance  in  the  charge  on  the  British  line, 
which  they  executed  most  gallantly.  Major  Adams 
being  in  too  bad  health  to  ])ermit  him  to  take  an  active 
part,  his  battalion  was  led  by  his  adjutant,  now  Gene- 
ral Phinehas  Staunton,  of  Genesee  county,  who  had 
kept  them  together  on  their  retreat,  and  who  distin- 
guished himself  in  that  as  well  as  many  subsequent  oc- 
casions on  the  Niagara.  Captain  Cummings  was  joined 
by  Colonel  King  of  the  army,  on  their  march  from  Buf- 
falo to  the  Rock,  and  both  of  them  took  efficient  parts  in 
the  operations  of  the  morning.* 

*  For  tliis  nccount  of  tlic  inva-iioii  of  Rlack  Rock  by  Colonol  Rislioj),  nnd  his 
defeat,  I  am  iiiilrhicd  to  (icncial  I'ctcr  B.  I'liitt'r.  1  Ijnd  wiittrn  an  account 
myself,  from  such  mali'iinls  as  could  he  obtained;  but  finding  that  the  publica- 
tions of  thiMliiy,and  thr  books  suljsociuciitly  written,  i^ave  but  a  veiy  unsatisfactory 
idea  of  the  gallant  atlair,  I  f;ave  my  niainiscrij)!  to  (ieneral  I'orter,  wiio  not  only 
corrected,  but  rc-wrote  the  narrative.  This,  therefore,  is  the  first  correct  account 
that  has  appeared  of  tiiat  brilliant  ex])loit.  Cieneral  I'orter  odds,  in  u  note,  that 
in  writing  this  account  more  details  liavo  been  indulged  than  .las  otherwise 
necessary,  for  the  purpose  of  correcting  the  luisreprescntations  contained  in  (ie- 
neral Armstrong's  book  lately  published,  and  intended  as  a  repository  of  historical 
truth  for  posterity,  entitled  "  Notices  of  the  Wnr  of  IGl'J."  In  this  book,  (vol. 
1st,  pages  147-8  and  9,)  the  General  attempts  to  depreciate  and  ridicule  the 
militia  of  the  state,  by  representing  them  as  having  run  away  on  tlie  first  sight  of 
the  enemy,  but  giving  them  no  creilit  for  their  promj>t  return  and  subse(|uoiit 
good  conduct ;  and  ascribing  the  gallant  attack  and  defeat  of  the  British,  on  that 
occasion,  to  about  one  liundied  nnd  tifty  United  Stales  infantry  and  a  few  In- 
dians, whom  lie  represents  as  having  casually  assembled  at  Biitlldo. 

It  is  true  as  asserted  by  General  Armstrong,  and  admitted  in  the  preceding 
ac(;oiint,  that  the  militia  stationed  at  Black  Ruck  did  llee  most  ignominiously  on 
the  first  npiiearance  of  the  B-itisli  troops,  and  with  it  firing  a  gun;  but  it  is 
e(iually  true,  that  these  same  militia  a  short  time  afterward  nobly  returned  to 
llieir  duty,  and  luught  and  acliieved  the  only  severe  battle  of  that  morning,  un- 


It! 


i:  1,!  ^^ 


M 


I      i 


hi'' 
•  if  ■' 

;'r 

'i 


Hi 


■V 
i-.l 


n 


'11 


ii  '  '' 


^1  i 


If] 


i    il:F-;. 


I  ^^ 


248 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


The  next  affair  in  which  the  Indians  were  engaged, 
occurred  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fort  George,  on  the 

ai(k'(l  by  tlie  rogiiliir  troops  from  BufTulo, — who,  by-tlio-bye,  amounted, — not  to 
one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  aa  reprosonted  by  General  Armstrong, — but  to  only 
about  one  iialf  lliat  number,  and  they  too,  with  the  exception  of  the  officers,  raw 
recruits,  iiiiio  tenths  of  whom  had  never  scon  a  battle  or  a  camp. 

The  attackin-  force  was  on  that  morning  divided  by  the  commanding  officer 
into  three  columns,  which  were  to  advance  by  different  routes,  and  make  a  simul- 
taneous assuiilton  the  British  position,  which  was  on  high,  open  and  commanding 
ground.  The  militia  and  Indians  arrived  in  season  and  commenced  the  attack; 
but  llic  column  composed  of  the  regular  infantry  and  the  volunteer  citizens  at- 
tached to  it,  being  commaiidi'd  at  the  time  the  order  for  the  attack  was  given  by 
Captain  Cummings  of  the  urmy,  but  who  was  superseded  at  the  critical  moment 
when  tlio  trooi)s  were  advancing,  by  another  officer  of  the  army  of  higher  rank, 
who  happened  to  arrive  and  to  insist  on  his  right  to  command  the  column,  lost 
the  favorabb?  moment  for  rendering  efficient  sernco.  Misapprehending  the  pre- 
cise orders  under  which  they  were  acting,  the  officer  wlio  thus  assumed  the 
command  over  Captain  Cummings,  made  an  awkward,  although  but  momentary 
diversion,  which  prevented  him  from  reaching  the  ground  until  the  battle  had 
been  fought,  and  the  enemy  had  fled  in  the  direction  of  their  boats. 

Subseijuently,  when  the  enemy  haJ  rallied  and  again  presented  a  line  of  battle 
in  the  vicinity  of  their  boats,  the  regular  infantry  from  Buffalo,  being  now  incor- 
porated with  the  other  troops,  ailvanced  to  the  charge  with  all  the  zeal  and  spirit 
that  distinguished  their  as.sociates:  but  the  British,  abashed  by  the  vigor  and 
resolution  manifested  by  tlieir  assailants,  made  and  received  but  one  or  two  fires, 
when  they  took  to  their  boats  and  hurried  to  the  opposite  shore  of  the  Niagara. 
This  explanation  is  mr.do  in  no  feeling  of  unkindness  toward  the  regular 
trooj)s;  but  is  richly  due  to  the  gallant  little  band  of  militia,  who,  it  is  believed, 
set  the  first  example  during  the  late  war, — but  afterward  so  often  and  so  glori- 
ously repeated  on  the  Niagara  frontier, — of  a  body  of  raw  militia  advancing  and 
meeting,  in  open  field  and  regular  order,  an  equal,  or  as  in  this  case,  even  a  supe- 
rior number  of  di;ci|)lincd  British  troops,  and  dispersing  them  nt  the  point  of  the 
bayonet.  For  I  lie  conflict  on  this  occasion  was  closer  and  more  desperate  than 
happens  m  nine  out  of  ten  battles  said  to  be  fought  by  British  troops  at  the  bayo- 
net's point. 

There  are  other  misrepresentations  in  General  Armstrong's  account  of  this 
affair, —  such  as  materially  underrating  the  number  of  combatants,  and  the  numbers 
slain  anil  iikuIo  prisoners ;  and  in  his  assertion  that  the  British  had  accom])lished, 
before  they  were  driven  bark,  most  of  the  important  objects  of  the  expedition,  in 
burning  barracks  and  block  houses,  and  carrying  away  the  whole  of  the  plunder 
that  invited  it, — when  in  fact  they  did  not  carry  away  or  destroy  more  than  one 
third  of  the  valuable  naval  stores  prepared  at  Black  Rock  for  Commodore  Perry, 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


249 


.:i^' 


islied. 


17th  of  July.  A  body  of  volunteers  and  Indians,  un- 
der Major  Cyrenius  Chapin,  having  crossed  over  io  the 
fort,  and  being  somewhat  impatient  to  see  the  enemy,  a 
plan  was  concerted  to  cut  off  his  pickets.  The  forces 
of  Major  Chapin,  Indians  and  militia,  consisted  of  about 
three  hundred.  To  these  was  added  a  detachment  of 
two  hundred  regulars,  under  Major  Cummings,  and  the 
command  of  the  whole  entrusted  to  General  Porter. 
The  British  and  Indian  encampment  was  surprised  at 
daylight,  seventy-five  of  their  lumber  killed,  and  six- 
teen taken  prisoners.  It  has  been  stated  that  the  suc- 
cess of  the  expedition  was  almost  entirely  owing  to  a 
stratagem  of  the  Indians,  who,  when  they  had  formed 
their  plan  of  attack,  succeeded  in  decoying  the  opposing 
Indians  into  an  ambuscade,  so  artfully  disposed  that 
when  they  raised  the  war-whoop  their  dusky  opponents 
mistook  it  for  a  signal  of  a  partj''  of  their  own  friends.* 
An  ofhcial  account  of  this  afiiiir  was  given  by  General 
Boyd,  then  commanding  the  post  of  Fort  George,  in 
which  he  says  : — 

"  Those  wlio  participated  in  this  contest,  particularly  the 
Indians,  conducted  with  great  bravery  and  activity.  General 
Porter  volunteered  in  the  aflfair,  and  Major  Chapin  evinced 
his  accustomed  zeal  and  courage.  The  principal  cliiets  who 
led  the  warriors  this  day  were  Farmer's-lirother,  Rcd-.J  acket, 
Little-Billy,  Pollard,  Jil  ick-Smoke,  Johnson,  SilvLi-Ileels, 
Captain  Half-Town,  Major  He  ry  O'Bail,  and  Captain  Cold, 

nor  touch  a  particle  of  the  military  stores  in  depot  at  Buffiilo  far  the  use  of  the 
army.     But  these  are  error:*  of  minor  considetation,  and  would  nut  have  been 
noticed  but  for  the  cruel  attack  upon  the  niiliiia  of  the  Psiugara  i'roniier. 
*  Drake's  Book  of  the  Indians. 

S3 


•  I 


ILiltitftl 

riii'  'I 


HI'! 

,  ml 

I    "I 


ir  ■  !■   il 
4 ' 


I.  :l 


■'  !  I 


250 


LIFE  AND  TIMES,  &c. 


who  was  wounded.  In  a  council  vM^  'i  v  :'.'  h:;ld  with  ihem 
yesterdiiy,  they  covenanted  not  to  scali  .  r  rai'  'Icr;  and  I  am 
happy  to  say  that  they  treated  the  pii^u.ners  with  humanity, 
and  committed  no  wanton  cruelties  on  the  dead." 

The  c'hicls  named  in  this  despatch  were  all  Senecas 
excepting  Captain  Cold.  In  a  subsequent  bulletin 
General  Boyd  spoke  a  second  time  of  the  good  conduct 
of  llic  Indians  in  this  brisk  affair,  thus  : — "  The  bravery 
and  humanity  of  the  Indians  were  equally  conspicu- 
ous ;"  and  another  authority*  says  : — "  They  behaved 
with  great  gallantry,  and  betrayed  no  disposition  to  vio- 
late the  restrictions  imposed  upon  them  by  General 
Boyd."  The  despatch  of  General  Boyd,  just  (quoted, 
contains  the  first  oflicial  information  extant,  of  Red- 
Jacket's  personal  service  in  the  field  during  that  contest. 


*  Article  in  Niles's  Weekly  Register. 


(1  M^in 


im^ 


1 


CHAPTER  X. 


'I  'I 


M 


1  1 


Disastrous  close  of  the  Niagara  campaign  in  1813 — Military  oi)oratic)n3  of  tho 
fiiUowing  year — Red-Jacket  rouses  the  Indians  upon  the  war-path — Invasion 
of  Canada  by  General  Brown — The  field  of  Chippewa  di>srnl)ed — Cnpturo 
of  Fort  Erie — Marcli  to  Chippewa — The  Battle — Its  etVccts — Ui'imirlis  there- 
on— Conduct  of  tho  Indians — Subsequent  operations  on  that  frontier — The  In- 
dians of  both  armies,  on  a  proposition  from  Red-Jacket,  nnitunlly  withdraw 
from  tho  service — Conduct  and  views  of  the  Indians  in  war — Ilcd-Jucket  in 
buttle — Captain  Worth  and  Farmer' s-Brother — Startling  incident  ut  Uulliilo — 
Colonel  Worth's  opinion  of  lled-Jackct. 

Notwithstanding  the  brilliant  successes  with  which 
it  had  been  opened,  the  Niagara  campaign  of  1813  closed 
disastrously  to  the  American  arms.  Forts  Erie  and 
George  were  successively  evacuated  by  the  forces  of 
the  United  States, — the  latter  withdrawing  to  the  re- 
publican side  of  the  river,  while  their  padiway  was 
lighted  by  the  conflagration  of  the  beautiful  town  of 
Newark,  wantonly  laid  in  ashes  by  General  IM'Clure, 
under  a  misapprehension  of  his  instructions  from  the 
Secretary  of  War.  This  event,  the  remembrance  of 
which  is  painful  to  every  American  of  just  feelings,  o?- 
curred  on  the  10th  of  December.  But  the  Vandal  act 
was  not  allowed  to  pass  unavenged.  On  the  night  of 
the  ISth,  the  enemy  crossed  the  river  in  force,  fuid  the 
fortress  of  Niagara  was  carried  by  surprise.  Pursuing 
his  success,  the  enemy  swept  rapidly  along  the  frontier 


'  I 


|-  ♦■' 


\    ■■.\ 


4ii 


252 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


from  Ontario  to  Eric,  carrying  the  works  at  TiGwiston, 
INIanchostcr,  Black  Rock  and  Buffiilo,  laying  those  fair 
villages  in  ruins,  and  ravaging  the  adjacent  country 
with  fire  and  tword.  It  is  true  that  this  frontier  had 
been  left  comparatively  defenceless,  by  the  wididrawal 
of  the  regular  troops  for  the  memorable  descent  of  the 
St.  Lawrence,  with  a  view  to  the  capture  of  Montreal, — 
an  enterprise  which  signally  failed.  Still,  the  fall  of 
Niagara  wi.r,  infjlorious,  while  but  few  laurels  wore  won 
in  defence  of  either  of  the  posts,  successively  and  imme- 
diately thereafter  falling  into  the  hands  of  liic  invaders. 
Among  the  villages  destroyed  in  this  retaliatory  invasion 
was  that  of  the  Tuscaroras  ;  but  the  Indians  themselves 
appear  to  have  l)orne  no  part  even  in  the  feeble  defence 
inter{)osed  by  the  militia,  and  the  handful  of  regulars  sta- 
tioned among  them. 

But  the  contest  was  renewed  in  that  quarter  in  the 
following  year,  more  vigorously  than  ever,  and  the  Sene- 
cas,  with  their  confederates  upon  the  American  side, 
roused  by  the  stirring  eloquence  of  Ked-.Tackct,  were 
upon  the  war  path  as  early  at  least  as  the  American 
troops  were  prepared  to  resume  offL'nsive  operations. 

On  the  1st  of  July,  1814,  General  Brown  found  him- 
self in  Bufliilo,  at  the  head  of  a  military  f()rce  so  strong 
as  in  his  judginent  to  authorize  the  invasion  of  Canada, 
for  which  movement  the  country  at  large  as  well  as  his 
own  troops  appeared  to  be  impatient.  His  army  con- 
sisted of  two  brigades  of  infantry,  (.ommanded  respec- 
tively by  (jenerals  Scoct  and  Ripley,  to  each  of  wiiich 
was  attached  an  efficient  train  of  field  artillery,  under 


m, 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


253 


Colonel  Towson  and  Major  Hindman,  and  a  small 
squadron  of  cavalry  under  Captain  Harris, — tlie  whole 
in  the  highest  state  of  discipline  and  ecinipment.  To 
these  was  added  a  brigade  of  miscellaneous  troo{)s,  com- 
prising a  regiment  of  Pennsylvania  volunteers  about  five 
hundred  strong,  a  corps  of  six  hundred  New- York  volun- 
teers, one  hundred  of  them  mounted, — then  on  their 
march  from  Batavia, — and  five  hundred  and  fifty  to  six 
hundrf^d  Indian  warriors,  eml)racing  nearly  the  whole 
military  force  of  the  Six  Nations, — all  under  the  imme- 
diate conunand  of  Ccmeral  Peter  B.  I^orter,  as  the 
Quarter-master  General  of  the  militia  of  New- York  ; 
who,  without  intending  to  adopt  permanently  the  military 
profession,  was  induced  to  accept  this  heterogeneous 
command,  under  a  belief  that  his  local  knowledge  of  the 
countr3%  at  least,  might  enable  him  to  be  useful  in  the 
prosecution  of  a  war  which,  in  another  situation,  he  had 
been  instrumental  in  recommending,  but  wiiich  thus  far 
hail  been  attended  with  so  little  success.* 

General  Brown  proposed  to  open  the  (;am|);ugn  by  the 
capture  of  Fort  Erie ;  and  tiience,  proceeding  rapidly 
down  the  Niagara  river,  reduce  in  succession  the  British 
posts  of  Chippewa,  (iueenston  Heights,  Forts  Missis- 
sauguri  and  Niagara;  anticipating  the  co-operation  of 
ComnKtdore  Chauncey's  squadron  on  Lake  Ontario,  in 
the  achievement  of  the  two  last  ol)jeets. 

Fort  Krie,  situated  at  the  fof)t  of  Lake  Erie,  was  gar- 
risoned by  ')nc  hundred  and  seventy  men,  and  connnan- 

•  fir'iicinl  I'.irtrr,  m  ii  rTH'mlxT  of  Congrc!t»,  had  been  n  itroni^  anil  eloquent 
advocuu)  I'ur  ilio  Dfclaraiiun  uf  War. 


j^<: 


( 

) 

\ 

'4 

;       i 

( 

» ! 

MM 

il 

}  : 

I 


254 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


clecl  by  Major  Burke  of  the  British  army.  Chippewa, 
eighteen  miles  brlow,  and  then  the  head  quarters  of  the 
British  forces,  was  occupied  by  General  Real,  with  an 
army, — inclusive  of  troops  at  available  distances  in  his 
rear, — of  about  the  same  numerical  force,  and  of  the  same 
composition  with  that  of  General  Brown,  save  that  the 
number  of  his  Indian  allies  was  somewhat  less. 

In  order  to   form   any  just  estimate  of   the  merits 
of  the    battle  of  Ciiippewa, — no  just  or  adequate  ac- 
count of  which  has  yet  appeared  in  history, — a  correct 
and   minute    knowledge   of  the   positions   of   the   two 
armies  and  their  surrounding  localities,  at  the  time  of 
the  engagement,  is  indispensably  necessary.     The  Chip- 
pewa or  Welland  River,  the  north  or  left  bank  of  which, 
near  its  moutii,  was  occupied  by  the  British  army  and 
their  defences,  consisting  of  two  block-houses  connected 
and  flimked  by  a   parapet,  is  a  considerable    stream, 
about   one  huntlred   yards   wide   and    from   twelve  to 
twenty  feet  deep,  coming  from  the  west  and  entering 
the  Niagara  at  a  right  angle.     Street's  Creek,  the  mouth 
of  which  was  selected  I)y  the  American  commanders 
as  a  suital)le  position  before  the  battle,  is  a  small  sluggish 
stream  parallel  to  the  Chippewa,  and  enteriiig  the  Nia- 
gara two  miles  above,  or  to  the  south  of  it.     The  Chip- 
pewa is  bordered  on  the  south   by  a  flat,  o[)en  plain, 
about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  wide  and  terminating  in 
the  rear  in  a  dense  forest  of  primitive  growth  ;  so  wet, 
and  so  much  obstructed  by  fallen  timber,  as  to  l)e  im- 
practicable for  carriages  or  horses.     The  west  bank  of 
the  Niagara  is  precisely  similar  to  the  soutli  bank  of  the 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


255 


Chippewa, — with  this  difference  only,  that  about  mid- 
way between  the  Chippewa  and  Street's  Creek  there  is, 
or  was  at  that  time,  a  strip  or  tongue  of  woodland  which 
had  never  been  cleared,  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  in 
width,  extending  from,  or  being  a  continuation  of,  the 
forest  in  the  rear  to  a  narrow  clearing  of  one  hundred 
yards  width,  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  used  as  the  pub- 
lic highway, — thus  forming  a  mask  between  the  two 
positions  of  Chippewa  and  Street's  Creek,  by  which  the 
occupants  of  each  were  excluded  from  all  knowledge  or 
observation  of  what  was  passing  at  the  other. 

On  the  2d  of  July  General  Brown,  with  Generals 
Scott  and  Porter,  made  a  reconnoissance  of  Fort  Erie 
and  tiie  upper  parts  of  the  Niagara,  antl  concerted  a 
plan  for  the  attack  of  the  fort  on  the  Ibllowing  morning. 
By  this  plan  General  Ripley,  with  part  of  his  brigade, 
was  to  embark  in  boats  at  Buffldo  in  the  course  of  the 
night,  and  passing  uj)  and  across  the  lake,  land  at  day- 
light on  the  British  shore,  a  mile  above  Fort  Erie  ;  and 
General  Scott  with  his  brigade  to  cross  the  Niagara 
River,  through  a  difficult  pass  in  the  Black  Rock 
Rapids,  and  make  a  simultaneous  landing,  a  mile  below 
the  fort;  when  the  two  brigades,  closing  and  surround- 
ing the  fort,  would  prevent  the  e^-f  .i^>c  of  the  garrison 
until  artillery  could  be  brought  froii  nulFalo  to  reduce 
it.  General  Ripley,  although  pl■.^'^tu^d  in  his  de[)arture, 
did  not  reach  the  point  of  d^'.  rkution  uniii  ;  ume  hours 
after  the  appointed  time,  in  consequence  of  a  heavy  fog 
by  which  his  pilots  were  misled.  But  (Jenrra!  Scott, 
with  his  accustomed  promptitude,  made  good  his  land- 


II.    •(■*■! 


II 

!  '/A 

t  ,' 

'■h| 

ii 

.■'-t 

r  1 

■J 

It  is  f 

It  if; 

»- 
.    1 

256 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


li''  M 


ing  at  the  hour  indicated,  and  was  able,  with  the  assist- 
ance of  a  few  Indians  and  volunteers  who  accompanied 
him,  to  invest  the  fort  in  such  a  manner  as  to  secure  its 
garrison. 

The  rising  sun  disclosed  to  the  British  commandant 
and  his  ofKcors,  who  were  deliberately  viewing  tlie 
scene  with  their  glasses  from  the  top  of  their  works,  not 
only  their  l()rt  already  surrounded,  but  the  hurried 
transit  of  boats  at  the  ferry  below  freighted  with  In- 
dians, artillery  and  other  means  for  their  destruction. 
Whether  influenced  most  by  the  ibrmidable  appearance 
of  the  artillery  or  of  the  Indians,  who  are  held  even  in 
greater  terror  by  Eurojxjan  than  by  American  soldiers, 
the  commanding  olliccr,  soon  alter  mid-day,  and  too 
soon  perhaps  to  satisfy  the  claims  of  mihtary  (Etiquette, 
surrendcn^d  the  fort  and  garrison  to  the  demand  of  Ue- 
nend  Brown,  without  firing  a  gun. 

On  the  same  evening  (Jeneral  Scott,  with  his  brigade 
and  Towson's  artillery,  proceeded  down  the  Niagara, 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  4th,  having  driven  in  on  his 
march  some  advanced  posts  of  the  enemy,  established 
his  camp  in  the  open  field  on  the  south  side  of  Street's 
Creek,  near  its  mouUi  and  two  miles  from  Chippewa. 
On  the  evening  of  the  same  day  (4th)  he  was  joined  by 
General  Brown,  with  Ceneral  Kiph'y's  brigade,  which 
took  post  in  the  same  field  in  rear  of  (Jeneral  Scott. 
In  the  course  of  the  night  of  the  4lli,  Ceneral  I'orter 
crossed  the  Niagara  at  Black  Rock,  with  liie  Pennsyl- 
vania volunteers  and  Indians ;  and  at  sunrise  on  the 
morning  uf  llie  Q\li,  marched  fur  the  camp,  where  ihey 


OF  RKD-JACKET. 


257 


arrivrd  at  twelve  o'clock.  On  tlicir  way  down  tliey 
were  met  ahoiitfivc  miles  above  Chippewa  by  Cencral 
Brown,  who  on  joining  and  returning  with  them  gave 
(jeneral  Porter  to  understand  that  the  position  of  the 
American  army,  although  probably  the  best  that  could 
have  been  selected,  was  a  most  uncomlbrtable  one  on 
account  of  its  contracted  limits, — there  being  but  about 
three-fourths  of  a  mile  distance  between  the  river  and 
an  almost  impenetrable  forest,  infested  by  a  band  of 
Indians  and  mihtia,  conversant  with  i^.^  haunts  and  sent 
out  from  the  iWilish  carnp  to  annoy  and  assail  his  pic- 
kets ;  ihat  lu;  had  that  morning  been  under  tin-  neces- 
sity of  making  an  exami)le  of  a  valuable  oflicer  llir  suf- 
fering his  guard  1o  be  driven  in,  and  the  army  thu^:  ex- 
posed lo  the  direct  fire  of  these  troublesome  visitants, — 
that  it  was  abscihitely  necessary  for  the  quiet  and  safety 
of  the  cam})  tli;it  iln;se  intruders  should  be  dispersed  ; 
and,  as  regular  troops  wcne  ill  (jualilied  for  such  service, 
proposed  to  (Jeneral  Porter  that  he  should  with  his  cori)s 
of  Indiiin  warriors,  aided  if  necessary  by  th(^  volunteers, 
scour  tiie  adjoining  woods  ;ind  drive  llu;  enemy  across 
the  Cliippewa,  handling  them  in  such  a  manner  as 
would  pr(!vent  a  renewal  of  this  kind  of  warfiire, — ds- 
siirhig /lint  hi  the  mo.tt  confident  terms  that  there  w;is  not 
and  would  not  be  in  the  course  of  that  day  a  single 
IJrilish  regular  sohlier  on  the  south  side  of  the  Chippewa. 
But  still,  to  lie  [irepared  for  such  improbable  contingency, 
that  he  vvouUl  direct  (Jeneral  Scott's  brigade  to  cn)sg 
Street's  ('reek  nnd  ueeuj)y  tin;  p'ain  on  the  nnrlli  side 
of  it,   (wl.iich   aft(;rward  became   the   principal   battle 

33 


^  1 


!^ 


'T-i      :f 


■>    It 


|i  'll' 


«i 


I 


J       ]         l\ 
II     ■  '■ 


258 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


ground,)  and  be  in  readiness  to  sustain  him.  The  pro- 
position was  of  course  acceded  to  by  General  Porter, 
and  wlien  attorward  communicated  to  his  brigade,  re- 
ceived by  them  with  enthusiasm. 

liy  three;  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  men  having 
been  refreshed  from  the  fatigues  of  the  preceding  twen- 
ty-tour hours, — the  plan  of  march  and  attack  settled, 
and  the  warriors  duly  arrayed  in  their  battle  dress,* — 
General  I'ortcr's  connnand, — with  the  exception  of  two 
hundred  Pennsylvanians  who  were  left  on  parade,  sub- 
ject to  future  orders, — was  formed  about  halt  a  mile 
in  rear  <»!'  llie  main  camp,  into  a  single  or  Indian  file, 
with  Indians  on  the  left ;  .uid  thence  marching  into  the 
woods  in  the  same  order,  in  a  line  a!  right  angles  to  the 
river,  until  llu;  whole  Indian  force  was  immerged  in  the 
forest,  leaving  the  while  troops  in  the  open  lield, — they 
had  only  to  ualt  and  faeo  to  the  rigiit,  when  tli,:  who'*^ 
were  formed  in  line  of  battle,  three-fourths  ol'  a  mile 
long  and  one  man  Jcc^j,  looking  in  the  tlirection  of  Chip- 
pewa. Red-Jacket  was  placed  at  the  extreme  left  of 
the  line,  and  (Jeneral  Porter  took  his  statid.i  on  the  mar- 
gin of  the  woods  between  the  wlnic  and  red  troops,  ac- 
companied by  CJa[)tain  Pollard, — a  fc?eneea  chief,  who 
was  considered  as  tiie  lirst  in  command  imiiong  the  in- 

*  It  wii't  tin-  iinifiinn  ])riiclici'  <if  niir  fmlian  wnniors,  wlii'ri  ^'iiiii;;  into  iirtiiiii, 
to  divest  tliuir  ik-hhiis  nf  all  covuiiiij;  i'xcoj)liii};  nidccasiim,  pcrliiipB  Icgf^iiiys,  u 
bnwch-rloih,  a  liirjc  lull  of  wliiti-  ti-nthi'rs  tliBtfiiuil  ti)  tin'  liiiir  oii  tlm  crown  of 
tho  licnd,  mill  n  small  strong  pluitod  line  or  bi-lt,  lliroii  or  toui'  yards  lonp,  (called 

I  intuiii  ■  'mm-,)  girt  about  tlii'ir  waist,  to  srciin*  the  toniuliuwk,  knifi',  jiowdi-r- 
it'ii.i,  \('.,  and  used  if  n'^ciMsurv  to  bind  tlioir  prisunur.^.      I'lioir  naked  bodius 

iiid  faces  were  iben  pr!.'  .!  with  bold  and  gaudy  tulors,  without  uniformity,  mid 
,,MMnIly,  though  not  always,  without  much  tasto  or  design. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


S-SQ 


dinns,* — Colonel  Flemming,  the  Quarter-master  of  the 
Indian  corps,  Lieutenant  (now  Major)  Donald  Fraser, 
his  aid,  Henry  Johnson,  his  interprefer.t  lie  was  also 
accompanied  by  IVIajor  (now  Adjutant-Ceneral)  Jones, 
and  Major  Wood  of  the  Engineers,  who  afterwarfl  fell 
in  the  sortie  from  Fort  Erie,  as  volunteers  ;  and  sup- 
ported by  a  company  of  regular  inf;mtry,  marching  in 
column  in  the  rear  as  a  reserve.  The  Indians  were 
commanded  by  their  war-chiefs  who  were  indulged  in 
their  own  mode  of  conducting  the  attack,  marching  about 
twenty  jMrds  in  advance  of  the  warriors  of  their  respec- 
tive tribes.     General  Porter  having  sent  out  scouts  to  re- 


.'r    tv 


p, 


.1' 


if     ;'l 


t  of 
iiar- 

ac- 
whu 

In- 

iirtioii, 
itJi:s,  a 

ISMI   l)t 

calkil 

HVlllT- 

iKiilius 
,',  1111(1 


*  Tho  selection  of  tlicir  leader  for  tliis  battle,  or  pcrhajis  for  tlio  cntiipnigii, 
was  iiiudu  in  council  hut  a  short  time  beforo  the  uction  took  phice.  Tht"  chief 
who  expi'i't'-d  the  distinction  was  an  Onondn^n,  named  Ka-was-kwant,  or  tho 
6'/)riHi,'-7Vap,  commonly  known  ns  Captnin  John.  He  was  nn  nged  warrior, 
who  had  shown  his  bruvi'ry  at  Wyoininy,  Cherry  Valley,  and  Newtown,  and  in 
slioit  at  almost  every  place  where  fighting  was  to  l)e  dune  diniM;,'  the  war  of  the 
revolution.  He  was  now  soventy-fivo  years  old  ;  but  heiiiiii;;  that  his  people 
were  about  to  go  again  upon  the  war-jiath,  tlie  tire  of  heroism  rekindled  in 
his  bosom,  and  he  hastened  to  the  frontier,  contident,  (hat  Iroiii  his  well-known 
character  of  old,  lie  should  be  chosen  the  leader  on  the  present  occasion.  But 
lit"  was  not  even  named  in  council,  the  choice  falling  with  great  unanimity  upon 
I'oii.iril.  Captain  .)ohn  wai  greatly  all'ected  by  this  negli  ei.  and  the  tears  rolled 
down  his  cheeks  as  In-  related  the  eircunislancu  to  Mr.  Tvler,  the  author's  in- 
formant. ''  They  think  nw  too  old,  and  that  I  am  good  lor  nothing,"  said  tho 
veteran  chief,  in  the  bitterness  of  his  heart;  and  with  a  inuntciiance  Middened 
with  disappointment  he  left  tlie  warriors,  and  retraced  his  steps  to  ( Inomlagn. 
j"n  they  did  not  want  hi;  xervices,  lie  would  not  trouble  them  with  his  j  lesence. 
t  Henry  Johnsion,  (caiied  Caltarnugas  Hank,)  was  a  white  man  by  birth  ;  but 
having  been  maile  u  pii.soner  in  infancy,  was  in  all  his  iismn'  uik^os.  habics  onii 
dispositions,  a  thorough  Inumii.  He  was  honest  ami  pusseDseti  a  tuitids(«ne  juo- 
perly,  was  endowed  with  great  pbv«  cal  power  ■»•;  enimjirise,  ami  being  withal 
an  admirabie  hunter,  there  was,  piriifaably,  not  an  Indian  or  a  whiu;  man  on  the 
Niagara  who  cuukl  boast  of  having  slain  tho  nu.  aber  uf  foe«  that  fell  by  hi*  un- 
erring rifle. 


J  s 


f 


I  j 


200 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


IJ 


illiii'i 


Ni< 


connollrc  the  enemy,  the  march  was  commenced  hy  sicnal, 
and  proceeded  at  first  with  great  stillness  and  caution. 
The  cliiefs  have  signals,  by  which,  on  the  discovery  of 
any  circumstance  requiring  consultation  or  a  change  of 
route  or  action,  they  convey  notice  through  their  ranks 
with  great  celerity,  on  which  the  whole  line  of  warriors 
drop  instantly  to  tlie  ground,  and  remain  there  until  far- 
ther orders.  Two  manoeuvres  of  this  kind  occurred  on 
the  march, — the  first  of  little  moment,  but  the  second 
communicating,  through  the  scouts,  the  exact  position  of 
the  enemy,  who,  apprised  of  their  assailants'  aj)proach, 
lay  concealed  in  a  thicket  of  buslu^s  along  the  margin 
of  Street's  Creek.  A  consultation  was  thereupon  held 
and  new  orders  given,  the  puiport  of  which  was  to 
change  the  line  of  march  so  as  to  meet  the  enemy  to 
more  advantage,  to  increase  the  speed  as  much  as  was 
consistent  with  the  preservation  of  order,  to  receive 
their  first  lire,  but  not  to  return  it  except  singly  and 
when  it  could  be  done  with  certain  eflect,  and  then  to 
raise  the  war-whoop,  pursue,  capture  and  slay  as  many 
as  practicable,  until  they  should  reach  the  open  ground 
in  front  of  Chippewa,  and  thence  return  to  camp. 

The  march  was  accordingly  resumed,  the  fire  of  the 
enemy  received,  and  a  rush  accompanied  with  savage 
yells  made  upon  them  iind  continued  f(»r  more  than  '■. 
mile,  t'lrough  scenes  of  frightful  havoc  ;md  slaughtei 
few  only  of  the  fugitives  oflering  to  surrender  as  pri- 
soners, while  others,  believing  th:il  no  <iii;irters  Wduld  be 
given,  sutlered  themselves  to  be  cm  down  by  the  toma- 
hawk, or  turning  buck  upon  their  pursuers,  fought  hand 
to  hand  to  the  last. 


"^'*^lr>» 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


261 


On  reaching  the  open  field  in  front  of  Chippewa,  the 
assailants  were  met  by  a  tremendous  discharge  of  mus- 
ketry, by  which  the  warriors,  who  were  ])rincipally  in 
front,  were  thrown  back  upon  the  volunteers  and  re- 
serve, who  for  want  of  equal  speed  were  a  short  dis- 
tance in  the  rear.  Presuming  that  the  fire  had  come 
from  the  enemy  he  had  been  pursuing,  and  who  had 
rallied  on  reaching  the  open  ground,  General  Porter 
made  an  efiort,  not  without  success,  to  reform  his  line 
widi  the  volunteers,  reserve,  and  a  portion  of  the  war- 
riors ;  but  on  again  advancing  to  the  margin  of  the 
woods  found  himself  within  a  few  yards  of  the  whole 
British  reguhir  army  lormed  in  line  of  battle,  and  pre- 
senting within  a  given  space  at  least  three  men  fresh 
from  Uieir  camp,  to  a  single  one  in  his  own  ailenuatcd 
and  exhausted  line.  After  receiving  and  returning  two 
or  three  fires,  the  enemy  rushed  forward  with  charged 
bayonets,  when,  iiearing  nothing  I'rom  (ieneral  Scott,  he 
gave  the  order  to  retreat,  sauve  qulimit,  and  form  again 
on  the  left  of  General  Scott's  brigade,  wherever  it 
should  be  found. 

It  appears  that  the  British  commander  liad  resolved 
on  making  a  general  attack  that  day  on  the  American 
camp;  and  in  execution  of  this  purpose  had  marched 
his  whole  force  across  the  Chippewa  a  short  time  before 
General  I'orter  entered  the  woods  with  the  ludiaiis; 
and  having  sent  forward  his  Indians  and  militia, — which 
was  the  British  force  met  in  the  woods, — to  commence 
his  attack  on  the  left  flank  of  the  Americans,  tbrmed  in 
the  meanlhnc  his  battalions  of  regulars  on  ilie  jdain, 


) « 


i"i:il|  i 


ii. 


'  r 


'-}'-■  ■III 


I  I 


*"tii 


m 


i 
■  I  ■ 
:A 

I,;. 

ii 


ii-     I'l 


2G2 


LIFE  AND  'IJMES 


under  cover  of  the  Pirip  of  wood  Innd  which  divided  the 
two  camps,  with  Ijir^  artillery  on  his  left,  near  tlie  gorge 
occupied  hy  the  road  along  the  bank  ( if  the  river  ;  ready 
to  act  the  moment  the  effect  of  the  Hank  attack  should 
be  developed. 

Tlu!  repulse  of  General  Porter's  v\)mmand  was  thus 
effected  by  the  main  body  of  the  British  army,  while 
General  Scott's  brigade  was  more  than  a  nale  in  the 
rear,  and  had  not  yet  crossed  tf  bridge  over  Street's 
Creek.  Tiie  error  therefore  of  Gtucral  Porter, — if  he 
committed  on(>, — consisted  in  remaining  as  long  as  he  did 
under  so  uuecjual  a  fire ;  or  perhaps  in  attempting  to 
rally  at  all  against  so  superior  a  force  ;  and  if  the  Indians 
were  more  censured  for  cowardice  than  the  volunteers, 
in  consequence  of  l)eing  foremost  in  tlie  flight,  they  owe 
their  degradation  to  their  greater  speed  and  bottom,  for 
every  fugitive,  wliether  white  or  red  man,  exerted  his 
utmost  power  of  locomotion  to  escape,  restrained  by  no 
other  consideration  than  a  passing  regard  to  the  safety 
of  his  immediate  companions  in  flight.*     In  a  retreat  of 


*  Colonel  Worth,  of  the  U.  S.  army,  has  given  me  in  conversations  some  nmu- 
siiiijreniiiiiscoiicca  of  thisri'trcnt  of  tin'  Imlians.  The  Colonel  was  ii  young  officer 
at  that  tinif,  nttnched  to  the  miltlnry  fimily  of  CitMieral  Scott.  Some  of  the  In- 
diana, it  seems,  hud  taken  their  .son8,ladg  of  twelve  to  fourteen,  into  the  battle,  to 
teach  tliein  early  in  the  trade  of  war.  As  the  Indians  came  rnsljini;  along  in  a 
diai,'onal  dircc'tion,  some  of  them  ran  up  in  front  of  Scott's  brigade,  which  ojiened 
a  passage  through  for  their  retreat.  Among  them  Colonel  Worth  observed  one 
stalwart  Indian,  with  his  son  upon  his  shoulder,  bounding  forward  with  the  ut- 
most expedition.  .Fust  as  he  was  iiasting  near  the  position  of  the  CJeneral  ind 
stttft,  a  shell  of  the  enemy's  exploded  apparently  over  his  head.  With  the  usual 
exclamation  of  "  Igh  !"  the  Inditiii  liouiided  nearly  ten  feet  high,  and  as  became 
down,  his  son,  \\  ho  was  about  fourteen  years  old,  tumbled  sprawling  upon  the 
ground, — the  father  continuing  his  speed,  and  the  young  "  bravo"  picking  him- 


"lii 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


263 


a  mile  in  a  diagonri]  tlircction  to  tlic  riylit,  so  ;is  to  un- 
cover the  enemy  to  the  lire  of  the  Amcricnn  lino,  then 
just  beginning  to  Ibrm,  they  gained  but  little  distance  on 
the  British  columns  who  were  in  iiot  pursuit.  AVhcn 
General  l*orter  and  his  staff'  arrived  at  Street's  Creek, 
they  w(^rc  met  by  Miijor  (now  General,)  Jesup's  bat- 
talion, then  in  the  act  of  tiddng  its  position,  which  was 
on  the  left,  and  a  short  distuncc  from  the  remainder  of 
General  Scott's  brigade  ;  and  the  volunteers,  liitigucd  as 
they  were,  aided  Major  .Jc-'ip's  evolutions,  which  were 
executed  with  great  onh  ami  celerity,  by  breaking 
down  the  fences  toenalii  Mm  to  pass  from  the  road 
bordering  on  Street's  Crci  >>  his  position  in  the  field. 
Nothing  could  exceed  die  coolness  and  order  with  wiiich 
General  Scott's  brigade  crossed  the  bridge  and  formed 
its  line,  under  the  galling  fire  of  the  enemy's  artillery, 
and  the  headlong  approach  of  his  infantry,  who,  when 
only  fifty  yards  distruit,  were  received  by  a  tremendous 
discharge  of  musketry  from  the  American  lin<.',  which 
forced  them  to  fall  back  for  a  considerable  distance. 
But  they  speedily  rallied  and  advanced  again,  wiien 
they  were  met  in  the  same  gallant  manner,  which  proved 
decisive  of  the  battle  ;  and  they  thereupon  lied  the  field 
widi  as  much  precipitation  as  they  had  entered  it, — not 
halting  until  they  had  recrossed  the  Chippewa  and  de- 
stroyed their  bridge.  General  Scott  pursued  them 
around  the  point  of  woods,  beyond  which  he  could  only 


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81'lfiii)  and  scnnipcring  aftor  him  as  fust  as  poasiblo.  Tin,'  sri'iii'  was  go  ludicrous 
as  to  create  merriment  among  the  young  officers,  even  on  so  grave  an  occasion,— 
calling  forth  a  rchuke  from  General  Scott.     W.  L.  S. 


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WIBSTiR.N  Y    MS80 

(716)  a7a-4S03 


264 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


i  h 


advance  in  face  of  their  batteries,  and  these  he  could 
not  reach  by  reason  of  the  intervening  river.  He  there- 
fore deployed  to  the  left,  and  forming  a  line  in  the  open 
field  in  front  of  Chippewa,  directed  his  men  to  lie  down 
with  their  heads  toward  the  batteries,  the  better  to  avoid 
the  effect  of  their  fire. 

The  battle  between  the  regular  troops  was  but  of  a 
few  minutes  duration,  with  the  exception  of  the  artillery, 
which,  on  both  sides,  was  earliest  and  longest  engaged, 
and  served  with  the  most  destructive  effect, — Colonel 
Towson  occupying  the  right  of  the  American  line,  on 
Street's  Creek,  and  the  British  artillery  the  left  of  theirs, 
at  the  point  of  woods,  and  both  commencing  with  the 
first  movements  of  the  regular  troops. 

Immediately  after  the  two  lines  had  encountered  on 
Street's  Creek,  a  magnificent  charger  completely  capari- 
soned, but  without  a  rider,  was  seen  prancing  and  cur- 
veting in  the  centre  of  the  battle  field,  and  endeavoring 
to  make  his  escape  through  the  American  line  to  the 
real*.  Presuming  that  he  had  belonged  to  some  officer 
who  had  fallen,  he  was  fortliwith  secured  by  the  servant 
of  General  Porter,  and  immediately  mounted  by  the 
general,  to  whom  he  was  a  most  acceptable  acquisition 
after  tlie  labors  of  the  day  which  he  had  performed  on 
foot.* 

*  Tliis  powerful  steed  was  the  property  of  Major  M'Ni'nl,  w  ho  eommniulcd 
one  of  General  Scott's  battuliuns,  and  never  having  before  been  in  action,  was  so 
much  aluniipil  l)y  tlio  sudJcri  nnd  trcmenilous  diorharge  of  rnuskpliy  iind  nrtil- 
lery  in  every  diior.tion,  as  to  bo,  for  a  few  monicnn,  wholly  UMnimuiijiihlc  ;  and 
the  miijor  was  obliged  to  disniiuunt  and  abandon  him.  Hn,  nevertheless,  soon 
became  familiari/.ed,  as  his  owner  had  b(3en  long  befiire,  to  the  dangers  of  hit 
new  pnifodiiun,  und  wm  the  next  morning  restored  to  the  major. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


265 


Riding  up  to  General  Brown,  who  was  also  in  the 
midst  of  the  action,  General  Porter  received  his  orders 
to  -narch  with  the  two  hundred  Pennsylvanians  who 
had  been  left  in  camp,  to  the  support  of  General  Scott ; 
which  orders  were  promptly  executed  by  following  Gene- 
ral Scott's  brigade  around  the  point  of  woods,  receiving 
the  fire  of  the  British  batteries,  and  taking  post  on  his 
left  with  the  men  in  the  same  recumbent  position.  Here 
they  awaited  the  arrival  of  General  Ripley's  brigade, 
which,  on  the  first  discovery  that  the  whole  British  army 
was  in  the  field,  had  been  ordered  to  make  a  detour 
through  the  woods,  and  attack  the  enemy's  right.  They 
soon  came  up,  in  the  same  muddy  plight  with  the  volun- 
teers and  Indians  who  had  previously  traversed  the  same 
ground  ;  when  the  whole  army  at  about  sundown  quietly 
retired  to  their  camp  on  the  south  side  of  Street's  Creek. 
And  thus  ended  the  battle  of  Chippewa,  which  probably 
produced  more  important  results  in  favor  of  the  Ameri- 
can arms  than  any  other  engagement  by  land  in  the 
course  of  that  war ;  although  there  were  several  battles 
fouaht  on  the  Niagara,  if  not  elsewhere,  duriniithe  same 
campaign,  exhibiting  a  greater  number  of  combatants 
engaged,  a  larger  numl^er  slain,  and  a  result  equally 
creditable  to  the  gallantry  and  good  conduct  of  the  Ame- 
rican soldiers. 

The  first  advantage  gained  was  in  driving  from  the 
British  army  those  troublesome  enemies,  their  Indian 
allies,  who  had  been  the  terror  of  our  troops  in  the  west, 
during  all  the  preceding  stages  of  the  war,  and  had  kept 
the  camps  of  General  Dearborn,  General  Lewis  and 

34 


liil    '  I' 


hfV 


m 


\ 


N 


s  ilfr 


f'^]i-m 


I  ' 


f'„ 


I: 


U 


266 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


Id  III 


ii^l  i 


General  Boyd,  in  a  perpetual  panic  during  the  campaign 
of  1813.  Terrified  and  disheartened  by  the  reception 
they  met  with  at  Chippewa,  they  fled  from  the  battle 
field  to  the  head  of  Lake  Ontario,  a  distance  of  thirty 
miles,  without  halting,  and  never  again  during  the  re- 
mainder of  the  war  appeared  in  the  British  camp, — thus 
giving  a  practical  and  decisive  proof  that  they  held  the 
prowess  of  their  red  American  foes  in  much  higher  esti- 
mation than  some  of  the  allies  of  the  latter  were  dis- 
posed to  accord  to  them. 

Another  immediate  effect  of  this  battle  was  to  give  the 
American  people  confidence  in  the  courage  and  efficiency 
of  their  army,  and  to  the  latter,  confidence  in  themselves. 
A  great  blunder  had  been  committed  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war,  in  the  appointment  of  incompetent  and 
unworthy  men,  taken  perhaps  from  the  gambling  table 
or  the  race  course,  as  officers  of  the  army,  owing  their 
places  to  the  importunities  of  influential  friends,  who 
sought  this  mode  of  providing  for  those  who  were  useless 
in  civil  life. 

It  is  a  well  known  fact,  and  it  is  fortunate  for  the  pur- 
poses of  war  that  it  is  so,  that  the  tone,  temper  and 
spirit  of  the  common  soldier  will,  in  most  instances,  and 
especially  on  occasions  of  great  peril,  conform  to,  and 
identify  themselves  with  those  of  his  commanding  offi- 
cer ;  so  that  if  an  officer  prove  recreant  in  battle,  his 
example  will  poison  and  make  cowards  of  the  whole 
corps  to  which  he  belongs ;  and  it  was  to  this  circum- 
stance tl'.at  the  Amjricans  were  indebted  for  most  of 
their  e        discomfitures. 


I 


K 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


267 


But  in  1814  this  difficulty  had  in  a  great  measure 
been  overcome  by  the  resignation  or  dismissal  of  unde- 
serving incumbents,  and  the  army  of  Niagara  entered 
the  field  under  a  complement  of  as  gallant  officers  as 
could  be  found  in  any  army  or  country. 

The  victory  of  Chippewa  and  those  which  followed 
it  were  achieved  by  men  three  fourths  of  whom, — in- 
cluding the  regular  troops  as  well  as  the  volunteers  and 
Indians, — had  never  before  been  in  action, — thus  esta- 
blishing the  important  fact,  wliicli  should  not  be  lost 
sight  of  in  the  future  organization  of  our  nrmy  and  mi- 
litia, that  the  efficiency  of  a  military  force  depends  more 
on  the  judicious  selection  and  arrangement  of  the  original 
material  of  which  it  is  composed,  than  on  prolonged  dis- 
cipline ;  and  that  a  farmer  fresh  from  the  plough  may, 
by  a  drill  of  six  weeks,  under  proper  officers,  be  rendered 
as  efficient  in  all  the  duties  of  the  field,  as  a  soldier  of 
ten  years  standing,  although  he  may  not  within  this  short 
space  become  enured  to  the  habits  of  the  camp. 

The  eclat  of  these  victories  created  such  an  cnthu- 
siasn.  throughout  the  countr}'^,  that  not  only  the  youth, 
but  men  of  every  age  and  condition  in  life,  were  pressing 
for  opportunities  to  enter  the  service ;  and  had  the  war 
continued,  the  campaign  of  1815  would  have  opened 
with  an  army  of  any  desired  extent,  selected  from  the 
choicest  materials  of  the  country.  But  these  same  events, 
so  brilliant  on  our  part,  had  a  corresponding  influence  in 
depressing  the  hopes  and  expectations  of  our  enemy,  and 
led  to  the  peace  of  December,  1814,  so  honorable  to  both 
parties,  and  which,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  will  not  soon  be 
again  disturbed. 


r 


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'HI!? 


I  \ 


268  LIFE  AND  TIMES 

On  reviewing  the  several  incidents  connected  with 
the  battle  of  Chippewa,  it  is  evident  that,  had  General 
Scott's  brigade  been  at  hand  to  support  the  volunteers 
and  Indians  when  first  met  by  the  regular  columns  of 
the  British  army,  the  contest  as  a  whole  would  have  pre- 
sented quite  a  different  aspect  from  the  one  it  actually 
assumed  ;  but  that  the  result  would  have  been  equally 
auspicious  to  the  American  arms  is  not  to  be  doubted. 
Why  they  were  not  there  has  never  been  satisfactorily 
explained  to  those  who  were  most  interested  in  the 
movement.  There  can  be  no  question  that  General 
Scott  was  as  full  a  believer  as  General  Brown,  in  the 
proposition  and  prophecy  so  confidently  advanced  by 
the  latter  in  the  morning,  "  that  thei'e  was  not  and  would 
not  be,  in  the  course  of  that  day,  a  single  regular  British 
soldier  on  the  south  side  of  the  Chippewa,"  and  that 
General  Porter's  force  was  amply  sufficient  to  dispose  of 
the  Indians  and  militia.  But  whether  the  tardy  exe- 
cution, or  rather  non-execution,  of  the  promised  order  for 
his  support,  proceeded  from  delay  in  the  issuing,  or  in 
the  performance  of  it,  is  a  question  which  seems  not  to 
have  been  settled. 

Still,  the  successive  mistakes  committed  by  the  two 
armies  on  that  day,  by  reason  of  their  mutual  ignorance 
of  each  other's  positions,  plans  and  movements,  were 
probably  quite  as  injurious  in  their  consequences  to  the 
British  as  to  the  Americans.  The  first  error,  in  throw- 
ing the  volunteers  and  Indians,  in  their  exhausted  con- 
dition, into  the  power  of  the  British  battalions,  without 
support,  was  immediately  followed  by  an  equal  one  on 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


269 


the  part  of  the  latter,  who,  on  seeing  the  sudden  check 
and  rapid  retreat  they  had  given  to  their  assailants,  and 
elated  too,  as  they  evidently  were,  with  the  idea  that 
victory  was  already  achieved,  pursued  them  Ibr  a  mile 
with   a  precipitation  which   at  once    exhausted    their 
strength,  and  threw  them  into  a  degree  of  confusion, 
which  was  so  much  increased  by  the    astounding  re- 
ception they  met  with  from  Gciieral  Scott's  line,  that 
they  could   never  afterward  restore  that  order  which 
was  necessary  to  enable  them  to  cope  with  the  cool  and 
compact  ranks  of  the  Americans.     And  these  mutual 
blunders  probably  hastened  the  termination  of  the  battle, 
and  rendered  it  less  sanguinary  than  it  would  have  been 
had  the  parties  met  more  deliberately,  and  with  a  bet- 
ter knowledge  of  each  other's  views  and  comparative 
strength.* 

The  rumor  which  was  industriously  sprend,  that  the 
whole  of  the  American  Indians,  immediately  on  their  re- 
pulse at  Chippewa,  fled  to  Buffalo,  and  were  never  seen 
again  in  the  American  camp,  was  destitute  of  foundation. 
The  Indians  never  coerce  their  warriors  into  battle  or 
compel  them  to  remain  there,  and  it  is  true  that  a  con- 
siderable number  of  them  fled  from  sheer  cowardice  and 
fright,  on  the  first  fire  ;  but  the  number  of  fugitives  was 
much  exaggerated  for  want  of  a  knowledge  of  Indian 
customs.  When  they  take  a  prisoner,  the  captor,  with  sur- 
prising dexterity  and  despatch,  binds  hishands  liehind  his 
back  with  his  maturnip  line  and  leads  him  off  to  the  rear, 


!  i! 


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m  g! 


m 


M 


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MM 


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t 


bik-  I 


*  General  Riall  bad  sevontoen  hundred  men  cngngcd  in  this  hoitle,  while  the 
American  troops  actuilly  brought  into  the  battle  did  not  exceed  thirteen  hundred'. 


I'  ii 
i;  .  .1 

/I  ; 

1 

]■' 

•           i 

■H 

1    : '  ,i! 

'     il 

''    ;.  'i 

<   a 

H'iili 

ii  II: 


<»'. 


::i , 


270 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


like  a  horse  by  a  halter,  on  a  trot ;  and  the  frequent  ap- 
pearance of  these  parties  gliding  along  the  skirts  of  the 
woods  at  the  commencement  of  the  action, — the  guard 
generally  outnumbering  the  prisoners, — ^led  the  other 
troops  by  whom  they  were  observed  to  believe  that  they 
were  all  fugitives.  But  that  the  great  body  of  warriors 
as  well  as  volunteers,  engaged  in  the  opening  attack, 
fought  with  a  boldness,  not  to  say  desperation,  unsur- 
passed by  any  other  troops  until  they  were  placed, — 
and  that  not  by  their  own  fault, — in  a  situation  where  it 
would  have  been  madness  not  to  retreat,  was  fully  at- 
tested by  their  officers  ;  and  was,  moreover,  proved  by 
the  fact  that  the  loss  of  the  British  Indians  and  militia 
in  the  woods,  inclusive  of  killed,  wounded  and  prison- 
ers, was  not  less  than  that  of  their  regular  troops  in  the 
subsequent  engagement  in  the  field. 

]Most  of  the  warriors  remained  in  camp  for  some 
fifteen  days  longer,  and  until  the  eve  of  the  battle  of 
Bridgewater,  when,  for  reasons  which  were  plausible,  if 
not  satisfactory,  they  retired  from  the  army  to  their  re- 
spective villages. 

On  the  morning  of  the  6th  of  July,  General  Porter 
was  waited  on  at  his  tent  by  about  twenty  chiefs,  each 
accompanied  by  a  warrior  bearing  the  scalps  which  his 
tribe  had  taken  during  the  preceding  day.  They  had, 
it  seems,  been  informed  that  they  were  to  receive  a 
bounty  for  every  scalp  taken  in  battle.  But  on  be- 
ing apprised  of  their  mistake,  these  unseemly  trophies 
were  immediately  buried  or  thrown  into  the  river.  Still 
they  were  allowed  a  premium  for  the  prisoners  they  had 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


271 


taken,  amounting  to  sixteen  or  eighteen, — among  whom 
were  two  or  three  chiefs, — proportioned  to  the  rank  they 
held. 

At  their  request  General  Porter  gave  them  permis- 
sion to  visit  the  battle  ground,  for  the  purpose  of  bring- 
ing off  the  bodies  of  their  friends  who  had  fallen, 
which  in  the  hurry  of  the  preceding  day  they  had  not 
been  able  to  do, — it  being  understood  that  Colonel 
Flemming  should  accompany  them. 

After  an  absence  of  a  few  hours  they  returned,  bring- 
ing in  the  bodies  of  fifteen  warriors,  among  whom  were 
three  chiefs,  all  of  which  were  buried  in  the  course  of 
the  evening  with  the  honors  of  war.*  They  reported 
also  that  among  the  numerous  bodies  of  their  enemies 
strewed  along  the  woods,  they  had  discovered  three 
who,  although  mortally  wounded,  were  still  living. 
Two  of  these  they  despatched  by  cutting  their  throats, 
but  recognizing  in  the  third  a  late  member  of  one  of 
their  own  villages,  who  was  burning  with  fever  and 
thirst,  Johnson  had  filled  his  own  canteen  with  water 
at  a  neighboi'ing  creek  and  given  it  to  him,  to  die  by 
himself.  On  being  reproached  with  the  savage  pro- 
ceeding of  takmg  the  life  of  an  unresisting  foe,  the  only 
answer  given  by  Johnson,  with  marV.  of  evident  con- 
trition, was, — "  That  it  did  seem  hard  It  take  the  lives 

*  Among  the  slain  chicfij  was  Captain  Le  Fort,  an  Onondaga,  of  courage  and 
reputation.  His  son,  Abraham  Lo  Fort,  yet  resides  at  Onondaga.  He  has  pror 
cured  a  good  education,  adopted  the  costume  of  the  wliites,  and  liis  children  are 
inmates  of  the  English  common  school  in  \m  neighborhood.  He  was  a  lad  of 
fourteen  at  the  time  of  the  battle  of  Chippewa,  and  accumpaiiied  his  father 
in  that  campaign.    W.  L.  S. 


,;if 


i  *i 


';  ^  I 


iTi; 


':r'li  t.  ;;;i  1:1 


l-i: 


l'!';|      ^ 


I        !■•    'K 


fi    ' 


I       1   f 


1l 


W'. 


272 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


"  of  these  men,  but  that  we  ought  to  recollect  that  these 
"  were  vcr}^  hard  times." 

Two  days  after  the  battle  a  passage  was  forced 
across  the  Chippewa  at  a  point  three  miles  above  its 
mouth,  by  Major  Hindman's  corps  of  artillery,  supported 
by  General  Rij^ley's  brigade  and  the  New- York  volun- 
teers, just  arrived.  After  a  short  and  gallant  resistance 
by  the  enemy  at  the  cannon's  mouth,  they  fled  in  great 
haste  and  confusion, — destroying  their  works  at  Chip- 
pewa and  Queenston  heights, — to  Fort  Mississagua,  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  River. 

On  the  march  of  the  army  to  Queenston,  the  Indians, 
whose  roving  habits  it  was  impossible  to  restrain,  com- 
mitted some  depredations  upon  the  neighboring  farmers, 
besides  capturing  some  fifty  to  one  hundred  barrels  of 
wine,  brandy,  and  other  stores  belonging  to  the  British 
army,  which  they  found  concealed  in  the  woods.  This 
property  was  taken  from  them  by  the  United  States 
Quarter-master,  in  virtue  of  an  order  issued  by  Gene- 
ral Brown  on  entering  the  province,  and  as  regarded 
the  public  stores,  much  to  their  dissatisfaction. 

About  this  time,  on  the  suggestion  of  Red-Jacket,  ap- 
proved by  General  Brown,  two  young  chiefs  distin- 
guished for  their  bravery,  prudence  and  address,  were 
despatched  to  the  camp  of  the  British  Indians  at  the 
head  of  the  lake,  with  secret  propositions  for  the  mutual 
withdrawal  of  the  whole  Indian  forces  from  both  armies. 
After  three  days  absence  they  returned,  and  reported 
that  they  were  kindly  received  by  the  few  chiefs  with 
whom    they  dared    to   communicate  or  to  be  made 


m 


I 

in. 


m 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


273 


known  to ;  and  that  measures  would  be  immediately 
taken  by  them  to  carry  the  proposition  into  effect. 
This  embassy, — which  Red-Jacket  was  disposed  to 
turn  to  the  best  advantage, — resulted  ui  the  retirement 
of  all  the  American  warriors  to  their  respective  villages, 
with  a  positive  engagement,  nevertheless,  that  they 
would  immediately  return  if  the  British  Indians  should 
again  appear  in  the  field.  But  they  did  not  appear; 
still,  some  forty  or  fifty  American  Indians,  among  whom 
was  Johnson,  lured  by  the  love  of  war  and  by  the  ex- 
citing scenes  through  which  they  had  already  passed, 
returned  to  the  army  and  were  useful  auxiliaries  dur- 
ing the  remainder  of  the  campaign, — having  been  in 
Fort  Erie  at  the  time  of  its  investment,  and  performed 
a  conspicuous  part  in  the  sortie  of  the  17th  September, 
on  which  occasion  they  were  among  the  first  to  scale 
the  enemy's  works. 

The  writer  of  the  preceding  account  has  relied 
almost  wholly  on  his  memory, — ^having  had  recourse  to 
scarcely  a  single  written  document,  except  to  ascertain 
dates, — for  the  facts  it  contains.*  His  principal  object 
has  been  to  vindicate  the  men  of  the  Six  Nations,  who 
have  no  historian  to  chronicle  their  good  or  bad  deeds, 
against  the  charges  both  of  bad  faith  and  cowardice 

*  General  Porter  is  himself  the  author  of  this  account  of  the  crossing  of  the 
Niagara  by  the  American  army ;  the  capture  of  Fort  Erie ;  and  the  battle  of 
Chippewa.  I  had  written  as  good  an  account  of  these  events  as  all  the  mate- 
rials I  could  obtain  enabled  mo  to  collate.  But  not  being  satisfied  with  it  my- 
self, I  placed  the  manuscript  in  the  hands  of  General  Porter,  who  kindly  favored 
me  with  a  far  more  correct,  extended,  and  impartial  account  of  that  portion  of  the 
campaign  of  1814,  than  I  could  obtain  the  means  of  composing.  See  letter  from 
General  Porter  to  the  author,  Appendix  E. 

85 


f  ■    ^:il 


»      it' 


274 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


fm 


u 

ji 

preferred  against  them  during  their  brief  connexion 
with  the  army.  He  will  close  it  with  a  few  remarks  on 
their  character,  and  more  especially  that  of  Red-Jacket, 
as  warriors. 

Although  these  people  are  unable,  for  want  of  the 
necessary  science,  materials,  and  machinery,  to  wage  a 
systematic  and  independent  war,  they  are  nevertheless 
most  valuable  auxiliaries  to  an  army  in  this  country. 
Indeed,  a  corps  of  Indian  warriors,  bearing  a  due  pro- 
portion to  the  size  of  the  army  with  which  they  act,  may 
be  considered  as  worth  at  least  double  their  numbers  in 
any  other  description  of  troops.  Equal,  at  least,  to 
white  men  in  physical  strength,  intelligence,  and  mili- 
tary ambition,  the  athletic  habits  in  which  vhey  are  edu- 
cated, their  familiarity  with  the  woods  and  fields,  and 
their  abstemious  modes  of  living,  confer  on  them  an  ac- 
tivity and  fleetness  and  a  power  of  endurance  far  be- 
yond what  white  men  possess  ;  while  the  lightness  of 
their  arms  and  dress  and  the  scanty  means  required  for 
their  subsistence  and  sleeping,  relieve  an  army  from  a 
vast  amount  of  the  lumber  and  material  of  war.  The 
prevailing  impression  that  they  are  more  cowardly  than 
white  men, — ^which  is  an  inference  from  their  well 
known  repugnance  and  refusal  to  fight  hand  to  hand  in 
the  open  field, — is  known  to  be  unjust  by  those  inti- 
mately acquainted  with  their  character  and  customs.  It 
should  be  recollected  that  the  sentiment  of  true  valor,  which 
is  as  much  respected  and  cherished  by  the  Indians  as  by 
white  men,  is  not  less  the  offspring  of  education  than  of 
instinct.     Among  the  qualifications  of  a  great  war-chief, 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


275 


prudence,  sagacity,  and  skill  in  circumventing  and 
prostrating  an  enemy  with  the  least  possible  loss  to  his 
own  people,  are  not  less  regarded  and  venerated  than  his 
prowess  in  the  field.  They  are  taught  from  their  infancy  to 
hold  in  detestation  that  sort  of  blind  chivalry  which  in- 
duces two  men,  or  two  equal  bodies  of  men,  to  march  into 
a  field  and  deliberately  hack  each  other  down.  Yet 
many  of  our  Indians  were  repeatedly  seen,  not  only 
charging  with  the  other  troops  in  the  field,  but  perform- 
ing,— when  acting  by  themselves, — feats  of  open,  bold, 
and  daring  bravery,  from  the  execution  of  which  few 
even  of  our  best  troops  would  not  have  recoiled.  But 
when  they  do  indulge  in  such  feats  it  must  be  when 
the  chances  of  success  are  strongly  in  their  favor,  and 
in  prospect  of  a  boon  commensurate  with  the  hazard 
they  run. 

As  to  Red-Jacket,  he  was  considered  by  his  own 
friends  as  well  as  by  his  enemies,  constitutionally  a  cow- 
ard,— that  is  to  say,  as  formed  with  nerves  more  sen- 
sitive to  danger  than  those  of  most  other  men ;  and 
yet  so  powerfully  was  he  influenced  by  the  feelings  of 
pride,  and  the  necessity  of  sustaining  in  every  situation 
the  reputation  of  a  great  chief,  that  he  was  said  by  those 
who  were  near  him  to  have  behaved  exceedingly  well 
in  the  battle  of  Chippewa.  But  he  took  care  to  keep 
himself  out  of  all  minor  engagements  and  skirmishes, 
where,  if  the  hazard  would  have  been  less,  so  also  was 
the  object  to  be  achieved.  During  the  whole  period  of 
the  war,  the  powers  of  his  great  eloquence  were  con- 
standy  exerted  both  on  the  government  and  on  the  chiefs 


'U.i 


V^'l 


.ll-ili'l'r     *i 


,  r.l      f 


i 


ii 


■^r<    <i 


I"  (I    :l 


i 


I'l 


m 


.1 


n 


iM 


!|^f*rf 


I 


n 

I 


n 


'  :■ )  8  a  i 


276 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


and  warriors ;  first,  to  keep  them  from  joining  in  the  war, 
and  after  they  had  become  engaged  to  withdraw  them 
from  it ;  and  in  this  his  counsels  were  those  of  a  wise 
man  and  a  provident  father  of  his  people.  His  principal 
arguments  were, — that  the  Indians  had  no  interest  in 
the  quarrel  between  the  two  parties,  and  nothing  to  gain 
or  lose  in  the  result, — that  they  had  no  voice  in  the  de- 
claration of  war,  nor  could  they  have  in  its  conduct  and 
termination, — and  above  all,  that  the  Six  Nations  had 
bui,  few  young  men,  who,  if  permitted  to  be  drawn  into 
the  contest  and  employed  in  such  enterprises  as  tlie  white 
officers  by  whom  they  would  be  commanded  should  di- 
rect, and  their  own  ambition  court,  would  be  very 
soon  exterminated,  and  leave  the  remainder  of  their  na- 
tion poor  and  powerless. 

Four  days  after  the  battle  of  Chippewa,  the  army  re- 
sumed its  march  down  the  Niagara,  for  the  investment 
of  Fort  George,  the  passage  of  the  Ciiippewa  being  but 
feebly  opposed,  and  General  Riall  falling  back  upon 
Twelve  Mile  Creek,  and  throwing  a  portion  of  his  troops 
into  the  last  mentioned  fortress. 

In  the  hard  fought  battle  of  Lundy's  Lane,  on  the 
25th  of  July,  among  the  wounded  were  the  Commander- 
in-chief  Major-Gcneral  Brown,  General  Scott,  and  his 
favorite  aid-de-camp  Captain  Worth.  The  latter  officer 
was  carried  back  to  Buffido  to  be  healed  of  his  wounds. 
While  lying  there,  an  incident  occurred  connected  with 
the  Indian  department  of  history,  which  is  worthy  of  re- 
cord. Captain  Worth  had  become  quite  a  favorite  with 
the  Indians  in  that  and  the  preceding  campaign,  and 


OF  RED-JACKET, 


277 


during  the  severrJ  weeks  of  his  confinement,  they  were 
wont  to  hang  around  his  quarters  in  considerable  num- 
bers, watching  him  with  great  sohcitude.  Farmer's- 
Brother,  in  particuUir,  was  in  the  habit  of  attending  his 
bed-side  several  hours  almost  every  day.  On  one  occa- 
sion, a  Chippewa  Indian  crossed  over  from  tlie  Canada 
shore,  and  joined  a  large  party  nf  Indians  near  Captain 
Worth's  quarters,  in  the  character  of  a  deserter.  Accor- 
ding to  his  story,  he  had  left  the  British  camp  below  the 
falls,  swum  the  Chippewa,  and  finding  means  of  crossing 
the  Niagara,  lie  had  now  come  over  to  join  the  Ameri- 
cans. Desertion  is  not  an  Indian  vice,  being  peculiar  to 
the  more  elevated  race  of  the  whites.  His  statement 
was  thercibre  received  with  distrust.  Neverdieless,  for 
a  short  time  he  mingled  among  the  Scnecas  undetected. 
But  liis  true  character  could  not  be  long  concealed.  The 
Indians  having  indulged  rather  more  freely  than  common 
in  drink  one  afternoon,  and  consequently  waxing  valiant, 
began  vauntingly  to  recount  their  exploits, — cacli  one 
relating  how  many  of  die  British  red-coats  and  Indians 
he  had  killed.  The  spirit  of  tlie  Chippewa  kindled  at 
the  recital ;  and  forgetting  for  the  moment  his  assumed 
character,  he  iield  up  his  fingers  and  lu)asted  of  the 
number  of  Yankees  and  Senccas  whom  he  had  slain. 
Words  ran  high,  and  ere  many  minutes  had  elapsed  the 
Chi})pewa  stood  in  tlie  midst  of  a  circle  of  some  twenty 
warriors,  self-convicted,  not  only  as  an  enemy,  but  a  spy. 
The  veteran  Farmer's-Brother  happened  at  the  time  to 
be  sitting  »,  ah  Captain  WorUi,  and  the  noise  of  die  ex- 
citement culled  him  into  the  street.     The  weallicr  was 


t 


1 


! 


Ill 


\^ 


I; 


■I 


278 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


'.<    IS 


1 

ft: 


k  •'  ' 


extremely  hot,  and  the  windows  of  the  Captain's  apart- 
ments were  open,  so  that  he  was  enabled  to  see  from 
his  couch  all  that  was  passing  without.  After  a  few 
words  to  the  old  chief,  apparently  of  explanation,  but 
which  Captain  Worth  could  not  understand,  Farmer's- 
Brother  stepped  up  to  the  Chippewa,  who  drew  his 
blanket  over  his  head,  and  fell  from  a  blow  inflicted  by 
the  veteran's  war-club.  He  was  stunned,  and  for  a  few 
seconds  lay  motionless, — when,  springing  suddenly  upon 
his  feet,  he  leaped  through  the  circle,  and  ran  swiftly 
away  to  the  distance  of  several  rods.  Recovering  from 
the  momentary  surprise  into  which  they  had  been  thrown 
by  this  unlooked  for  action,  the  Senecas  called  after  the 
fleeing  Chippewa,  and  taunted  him  for  his  cowardice  in 
refusing  to  die  like  a  brave  man.  The  retreating  spy, 
stung  by  the  reproach,  stopped  short  in  his  flight,  wheeled 
about,  and  deliberately  retraced  his  steps  to  the  fatal 
circle.  Having  resumed  his  place,  he  once  more  drew 
his  blanket  over  his  head,  and  laying  himself  quietly 
down,  received  the  contents  of  Farmcr's-Brother's  rifle 
in  his  breast,  and  expired, — atoning  for  his  crime  with 
as  much  calmness  and  resignation  as  Socrates  displayed 
in  drinking  the  deadly  hemlock.* 

From  the  preceding  narrative  it  must  be  apparent 
that  Red-Jacket  bore  no  very  prominent  part  among 
his  people  while  upon  the  war-path.  Yet,  in  other 
respects,  while  with  the  army,  his  influence  upon 
his  people  was  great.      Their  councils  were  frequent 

*  Notciof  tho  Author's  convorsationa  withColonol  Worth. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


279 


during  the  campaign,  and  Red-Jacket  was  uniformly 
their  principal  orator.  His  manner  was  graceful  and 
imposing  in  the  eye  of  every  beholder,  and  his  voice 
music, — especially  to  the  ears  of  his  own  people.  He 
had  the  power  of  wielding  them  at  will,  and  the  soul- 
stirring  trumpet  could  not  produce  a  more  kindling  ef- 
fect in  the  bosoms  of  a  disciplined  army,  than  would  his 
appeals  upon  the  warriors  of  his  race.  Still,  they  were 
all  aware  of  his  infirmity,  and  sometimes  when  he  was 
speaking  of  the  war-path,  those  who  were  waggishly  in- 
clined would  exchange  significant  glances  at  his  ex- 
pense.* And  yet  they  were  strongly  attached  to  him, 
from  their  admiration  of  his  talents,  their  love  of  his 
eloquence,  and  their  confidence  in  his  patriotism.  He 
had  years  before  this  period  become  addicted  to  that 
almost  universal  vice  of  his  race,  intemperance,  and 
was  now  indeed  almost  a  confirmed  drunkard.  But  he 
always  abstained  from  the  fire-water  for  a  season  before 
a  council,  and  made  due  preparation  for  any  intellectual 
effort  he  might  be  expecting  to  put  forth.  "  Often  have 
"  I  known  him  to  make  a  great  speech,  rich  in  elo- 
"  quence, — and  in  an  hour  afterward  seen  him  drunk 
"  upon  the  ground."t 

In  the  course  of  the  campaign  sketched  in  the  pre- 


ij','. 


li    .k:;'^ 


(':ii. 


m:  i 


Si- 


1 ' 


.ii,.| 


-  il': 


long 


•  An  anociloto  in  point  has  been  related  to  the  author  by  n  western  gentleman 
who  knew  Kud-Jiicket  well.  Ho  says  that  the  Inilian.s  were  often  in  the  habit 
of  jeering  him  for  his  cowanlico,  notwithstanding  their  strong  offectiun  for  him. 
On  one  occasion  this  gentleman  heard  a  conversation  between  the  orator  and  two 
Indians,  who  were  walking  with  him.  They  were  reminding  him  of  the  ciieum» 
stance  of  their  having  once  in  compassion  givi'n  him  a  scul[i  that  ho  might  take 
it  home  as  a  trophy,  but  tliey  said  that  ho  was  afraid  to  carry  it ! 

t  Ucniark  of  Colonel  Worth  to  the  author. 


f^      I' 


-IS 


i  m 


m 


w  < 


2S0 


LIFE  AND  TIMES,  &c. 


sent  chapter,  Red-Jacket  is  said  to  have  formed  a  strong 
friendship  for  Colonel  Snelling,  of  the  army,  who  had 
shown  him  some  particular  attentions.  The  colonel 
having  been  ordered  to  the  command  of  Governor's 
Island,  in  the  harbor  of  New- York,  the  orator  waited 
upon  him  to  bid  him  farewell.  His  parting  speech  was 
thus  reported : — 

"  Brother  : — I  heai*  you  are  going  to  a  place  called  Go- 
vernor's Island.  I  hope  you  will  be  a  governor  yourself.  I 
understand  that  you  white  people  think  children  a  blessing.  I 
hope  you  may  have  a  thousand.  And  above  all,  I  hope,  where- 
ver you  go,  you  may  never  find  whiskey  above  two  shillings  a 
quart."* 

*  Published  in  the  New-England  Galaxy,  by  William  J.  Snelling. 


m 


"11 


W  J 


CHAPTER  XL 

Another  land  compnny — The  Seiieca»  bogin  to  look  for  a  now  home  at  the 
west — Council  at  Sandusky — An  incident  of  travel — Rod-Jacket's  speech  at 
the  council — Speeches  of  others  in  reply — Nothing  rtV.'cted — Attempted  treaty 
between  the  Ogden  Land  Company  and  the  Soin  is,  at  BuiValo,  in  1819, 
Morris  S.  Miller  Commissiotier — Opening-  of  the  nmncil— Speech  of  Red- 
Jacket — Treaty  broken  oft"  without  success — Captain  Pollard's  apology  for  the 
rudeness  of  Red-Jacket — Subsequent  negotiations. 

In  process  of  time,  subsequent  to  the  negotiations  of 
Thomas  Morris  with  the  Indians  in  behalf  of  the  Hol- 
land Land  Company,  this  association  disposed  of  its  pre- 
emptive right  to  the  several  reservations  yet  held  by 
the  Senecas,  to  Colonel  Aaron  Ogden  and  others,  since 
known  in  connexion  with  this  subject  as  "  The  Ogden 
Company."  Thenceforward  it  of  course  became  the 
interest  of  this  last  mentioned  association  to  induce  the 
Indians  to  relinquish  those  reservations,  and  seek  a  new 
home  in  a  more  distant  territory.  Negotiatif)ns  to  this 
end  have  often  been  instituted  since,  attended,  from 
time  to  time,  by  partial  success.  It  appears,  moreover, 
that  the  Senecas  themselves  began  to  think  of  "  re- 
moving their  seats,"  at  an  early  day  after  the  peace  of 
1815.  There  is  some  reason  also  to  suppose  that  con- 
nected with  this  projected  removal  was  the  revival,  by 
Red-Jacket  and  his  fellow  chiefs,  of  the  scheme  so 

36 


'  M'l 


Fij  »i 


'■  ^:;!i 


■.f  fi 


','V4 


,1 

-!?- 

i 

■    »   6 

Kim 

i 

:.   i,  M 

I" 

1 

m 


'I' 


("I 


282 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


ardently  prosecuted  by  Brant  twenty-five  or  thirty  years 
before,  of  forming  a  great  confederacy  of  the  northwest- 
ern nations,  at  the  head  of  which  the  Senecas  would 
have  claimed  their  position.  Such,  at  all  events,  is  the 
inference,  irresistible,  to  be  drawn  from  the  proceedings 
of  a  grand  Indian  council  held  at  the  upper  rapids  of  the 
Sandusky,  in  the  autumn  of  1816.  Among  the  north- 
western nations  represented  in  this  council  were  the 
Wyandots,  Shawanese,  Delawares,  Ottawas,  Monseys, 
Piankishaws,  and  several  othersi  A  deputation  of  the 
chiefs  of  the  Six  Nations  was  likewise  in  attendance,  at 
the  head  of  which  was  Red-Jacket,  accompanied  by 
Jasper  Parish,  the  interpreter,  and  likewise  by  George 
Hosmer,  Esq.,  a  resident  of  the  Genesee  Valley,  who 
had  been  a  warm  friend  of  the  Seneca  chiefs  from  his 
youth  up,  and  who  made  this  journey  with  them  at  their 
express  solicitation.*  , 

Among  Mr.  Hosmer's  memoranda  of  his  journey  to 
Sandusky  on  this  occasion,  he  has  recorded  an  agree- 
able incident,  illustrating  the  fact  that  notwithstanding 
the  scorn  with  which  he  looked  upon  the  laws  and 
usages  of  civilization,  Red-Jacket  was  not  an  entire 
stranger  to  the  rules  of  propriety  and  delicacy  in  the 
social  circle.  In  travelling  up  the  shore  of  Lake  Erie, 
when  in  the  neighborhood  of  Cleveland,  they  were 
overtaken  by  a  heavy  storm  of  rain,  which  thoroughly 
drenched  the  party  and  their  baggage.     Stopping  for 

*  I  am  indebted  exclusively  to  Mr.  Hosmer  for  the  accompanying  account  of 
this  council,  and  the  sketches  of  the  speeches  delivered,  which  were  reported  by 
him. 


;  4 ., 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


283 


the  night  at  a  comfortable  log-tavern,  after  having  par- 
taken of  some  refreshments,  the  whole  party  were  seated 
in  a  large  circle  around  a  cheerful  fire,  drying  their  bag- 
gage and  clothes.  The  chiefs,  with  the  exception  of 
Red-Jacket,  were  earnestly  and  with  much  animation 
and  glee  engaged  in  a  jocular  conversation  with  Cap- 
tain Parish,  and  by  the  keenness  of  their  wit,  and  the 
readiness  and  briskness  of  their  sallies,  -greatly  annoyed 
him,  as  was  evident  from  his  exertions  to  sustain  him- 
self. During  all  this  time  Red-Jacket  sat  opposite  to 
Mr.  Hosmer,  calmly  smoking  his  pipe,  and  apparendy 
taking  little  interest  in  the  conversation  farther  than  oc- 
casionally to  cast  toward  Mr.  H.  a  gratified  expression  of 
his  sparkling  eye.  Mr.  Hosmer  was  ignorant  of  the 
Seneca  language, — a  circumstance  which  Red-Jacket 
very  well  knew,— and  the  idea  crossed  his  mind  that  his 
friend  might  possibly  suppose  that  their  sport  was  at  his 
expense,  which,  situated  as  he  was,  would  have  been 
inexcusable  rudeness.  After  their  mirth  had  been  in- 
dulged for  some  time,  Red-Jacket  interposed  a  word  to 
Mr.  Parish,  and  instantly  all  were  silent.  He  then  ad- 
dressed a  few  sentences  to  Mr.  Parish;  which  he  de- 
sired him  to  interpret  to  Mr.  Hosmer.  It  was  done  in 
the  following  woids  :— 

"  We  have  been  made  uncomfortable  by  the  storm;  we  are 
now  warm  and  comfortable ;  it  has  caused  us  to  feel  cheerful 
and  merry.  But  I  hope  our  friend  who  is  travelHng  with  us 
will  not  be  hurt  at  this  merriment,  or  suppose  that  we  are 
taking  advantage  of  his  ignorance  of  our  language,  to  make 
him  in  any  manner  the  subject  of  our  mirth." 


i: 


>:'].. 


I    ,H 


!■    n 


M        ';.  i: 

;i^ 

: '  r, 

wi 

;  '. 

11 

11 

i 

i:':| 

1 

jl 

1 

284 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


l>  in 


ii't 


i(- 


!■      -'ill; 


To  which  Mr.  Hosmer  replied,  that  knowing  himself 
to  be  in  company  with  brave  and  honorable  men,  he 
could  not  allow  himself  to  entertain  any  such  impres- 
sion. After  which  they  resumed  their  merriment,  and 
Red-Jacket  his  gravity. 

Arriving  at  the  council-fire,  and  the  council  having 
been  organized  for  business,  on  the  7th  of  November 
Red-Jacket  delivered  the  following  speech  : — 

"  Brothers  of  the  Council, — Listen  !  You  must  recollect 
that  a  few  years  since  some  delegates  from  your  elder  brethren, 
the  Six  Nations,  came  to  you.  That  council  fire  was  kindled 
at  Brownstown,  by  the  mutual  consent  of  the  Six  Nations ; 
but  we  then  requested  that  all  important  business  should  there- 
after be  transacted  at  this  place,  A  few  years  after  this,  ano- 
ther delegation  came  to  this  council  fire  from  your  elder 
brethren,  the  Six  Nations.  We  then  thought  appearances 
looked  squally.  We  thought  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain  were  looking  with  jealous  eyes  at  each  other.  It  ap- 
peared to  us  a  ti'emendous  and  destructive  stonn  was  approach- 
ing, bearing  blood  and  carnage  upon  its  wings.  We  then  told 
you  that  if  we  wei'c  not  on  our  guari'  wf;  should  feel  that 
storm.  We  also  told  you  that  it  was  liie  policy  of  the  red- 
coats* to  request  at  such  times  the  aid  of  the  Indians.  We 
admonished  you  to  take  warning  from  the  past,  and  told  you  to 
recollect  the  calamities  which  have  befallen  our  nations  in  the 
wars  of  the  pale  faces.  We  then  therefore  solemnly  requested 
you  would  be  neutral  in  that  contest.  We  advised  you  not  to 
listen  to  their  recjuests,  but  to  sit  still  on  your  seats. 

"  At  length  the  tremendous  storm  burst,  and  first  in  this 
quarter  you  were  disturbed  by  the  Virginians.  Others  of  our 
brothers  who  listened  to  the  voice  from  the  other  side  of  the 
water,  and  some  of  your  warriors,  united  with  the  Virginians. 

*  Thu  English 


H,     1 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


285 


Those  warriors  you  took  without  consulting  your  eUler  lae- 
thren,  the  Six  Nations.  The  consequence  was,  your  whole 
land,  and  the  place  of  your  council  fire,  was  smeared  with 
blood.  Our  ancient  records  were  dispersed,  and  many  were 
wl  oily  lost.  Thus  are  we  situated.  There  is  now  a  delega- 
tion present  from  the  Indians  at  large.  A  great  council  fire  is 
kindled,  whose  smoke  shall  ascend  to  the  heavens  ;  and  wc 
now  appoint  this  the  place  for  kindling  a  great  council  fire, 
where  all  important  business  shall  be  transacted.  In  token 
we  give  you  a  large  belt  of  wampum,  brown  and  white,  inter- 
mixed with  strings. 

"  Brothers  : — When  we  received  your  message  to  attend 
at  this  time  and  place,  you  requested  a  full  representation 
should  arise  from  their  seats,  for  the  purpose  of  making  some 
general  arrangement  for  the  benefit  of  the  Indians.  We  have 
attended  agreeably  to  your  request, — and  shall  now  make 
some  communications  to  remind  you  of  former  transactions. 
Whenever  the  two  white  nations  are  about  falling  into  diffi- 
culties, we  discover  different  languages  are  held  out  by  the 
British  that  we  must  adhere  to  them,  and  when  the  storm  is 
near  by,  they  will  present  you  with  a  sharp  iron.  This  has 
always  been  the  course  of  the  red-coats. 

"  Brothers  : — You  must  be  sensible  that  this  continent  was 
the  gift  of  the  Great  Spirit.  But  in  consequence  of  the  wars 
that  have  taken  place,  we  have  been  the  perpetual  ol'  er3rs. 
In  all  wars  within  my  memory,  we  have  lost  territory  by  taking 
up  the  hatchet.  The  British  have  sold  our  country  to  buy 
peace.  By  the  experience  of  the  past  let  us  learn  wisdurn,  and 
close  our  ears  to  British  counsel.  War  may  again  liappen  ; 
and  when  it  does  you  will  be  invited  to  mate  with  the  British. 
If  we  continue  to  listen  to  their  counsel,  we  shall  sxm  be  ox- 
terminated.  Let  us  guard  against  this  by  forming  a  perma- 
nent union  which  shall  protect  us  in  future.  To  decoy  you 
into  their  measures,  the  British  allure  you  with  many  fanciful 
trinkets.  But  these  are  trifles  when  compared  with  our  gene- 
ral and  individual  happiness.     We  now  earnestly  request  you 


*i- 


■•;' 


1: 


f 


I       I 


I    I  i  ''It 


.:! 


if 


ill 


J I 


'  (l. 


I 


286 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


will  exert  yourselves  to  extend  the  sound  of  our  voices  to  out 
brethren  who  are  absent  from  this  council. 

"  Warriors,  Listen  ! — You  recollect  that  we  have  now  es- 
tablished at  this  place  a  council  fire,  to  be  under  the  care  of 
the  Wyandots.  I  request  you  to  submit  to  the  direction  of 
the  sachems,  and  not  through  pride  to  attempt  to  control 
them.  It  is  planted  in  the  centre  of  your  country.  Do  not  be 
flattered  away  by  any  white  people  who  may  wish  to  purchase 
your  land.  To  command  respect  you  must  possess  extensive 
territory.  Keep  your  seats  sufficiently  large  that  you  may 
not  be  crowded  on  any  side  by  the  whites.  And  do  not  ever 
attempt  to  transact  any  business  excejit  at  this  place,  and  then 
in  the  presence  of  the  sachems.  I  hope  that  you  will  aid  and 
assist  the  sachems  in  bringing  back  from  the  other  side  of  the 
water*  those  of  our  brothers  who  have  gone  astray  to  the  Bri- 
tish. Take  them  by  the  hand  in  friendship,  and  forget  their 
errors.     They  will  add  to  your  strength. 

"My  younger  Brethren  op  the  Shaavanese  : — I  now  ad- 
dress myself  to  you.  When  we  were  created  by  the  Great 
Spirit,  we  were  all  of  one  color.  But  it  was  his  pleasure  that 
we  should  speak  different  languages,  and  be  placed  in  different 
countries.  You  must  be  sensible  that  you  are  foreigners.  A 
number  of  years  since  you  came  to  this  country,  and  were  taken 
under  the  protection  of  our  brethren  the  Wyandots,  who  gave 
you  a  pleasant  seat,  where  you  enjoyed  a  delightful  country, 
and  shared  in  common  with  them  the  game  of  the  forest. 
These  proceedings  came  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Six  Nations. 
You  had  not  resided  here  long  before  you  became  uneasy,  and 
you  have  been  first  to  produce  disturbances,  and  been  forward 
to  effect  the  sale  of  lands  which  did  not  belong  to  your  nation. 
You  have  been  the  authors  of  other  difficulties  between  the  red 
and  white  people.  You  have  been  forward  in  the  late  diffi- 
culties, by  listening  to  the  voice  from  across  the  waters.  Where 
is  now  your  head  sachem  1  Where  a  part  of  your  people  ? 

*  Not  the  ocean,  but  the  great  lakes  meaning.     The  same  phrase,  in  the  somj 
sense,  occurs  frequently  in  the  course  of  tliis  speech. 


n. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


287 


They  lent  an  ear  to  the  red-coats,  and  are  now  In  exile  be- 
yond the  waters.  Wo  admonish  you  to  recall  them, — unite 
them  with  their  brethren, — form  a  band  of  union  with  the 
Wyandots.  Settled  on  the  scats  of  the  Wyandots,  your  friends, 
listen  to  their  counsel.  It  will  be  good.  Listen  also  to  the 
counsels  of  the  Six  Nations,  your  elder  brethren.  Do  not  at- 
tempt to  transact  important  business,  involving  the  rights  of 
others,  unless  at  the  great  council  fire,  and  with  the  approbation 
of  the  Wyandots. 

"  Sachems  op  the  Munsee  and  Delaware  Indians  : — You 
are  sensible  that  you  are  not  the  original  proprietors  of  the 
country  you  now  enjoy.  You  came  from  the  east.  We  know 
the  country  you  came  from.  You  wasted  away  your  inheri- 
tance and  became  wanderers.  We  gave  you  a  seat  on  White 
River,  where  is  plenty  of  game  and  pui"e  water.  And  notwith- 
standing this,  your  nation  is  dispersed.  Some  of  your  people 
have  taken  up  the  hatchet,  united  with  the  red-coats,  and  are 
now  across  the  water.  We  request  you  will  collect  yourselves 
in  one  body,  and  settle  yourselves  on  your  lands  at  White 
River.  Do  this,  and  we  will  then  unite  ourselves  together 
under  one  confederacy.  We  shall  then  have  strength  and  be 
respected  as  well  by  the  whites  as  by  the  more  western  nations." 

[The  speaker  next  proceeded  to  address  the  dispersed 
members  of  the  Six  Nations,  residing  on  the  lands  of 
the  Wyandots,  admonishing  them  as  he  had  admonished 
others,  and  counselling  them  to  act  in  union  and  har- 
mony, and  to  tbllow  the  advice  of  the  Wyandots.  He 
then  addressed  himself  to  Mr.  Parish,  and  another  offi- 
cer in  the  Indian  department,  named  Johnston : — ] 

"  Brothers  : — We  are  happy  to  meet  you  both  at  our 
council.  We  of  the  Six  Nations  transact  all  our  business 
openly,  and  not  under  the  curtain.  I  have  observed  with 
what  attention  you  have  listened  to  me.    I  hope  you  will  be 


I :  «i 


"11 

:  'I 

llljl 
lill' 


I    I. 
;i;f  I 


I 
f 


m 


■    Mil 


\-  u 


!■■',      ■■    ■ 


,':  * 


f   f 


II 


JS8 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


;J| 


¥'i     i'lM 


I  i! 


'ji:  ;■!  i   ii 


ii  ■  ':■     ) 


willing  to  unite  with  us  in  bringing  back  our  friends  from  be- 
yond the  water,  and  making  us  one  band.  Then  we  shall  bo- 
come  one  great  family  of  children,  under  our  great  Father,  the 
President.  We  ask  your  assistance.  Let  the  communication 
with  the  other  side  of  the  water  be  opened,  and  then  we  shall 
be  able  to  bring  back  our  fi-iends  from  across  the  water.  Our 
great  Father  we  hope  will  not  forget  his  red  children  ;  and  as 
he  now  possesses  much  of  our  finest  land,  we  hope  he  will  be 
more  liberal  of  presents  than  he  has  been.  You  must  now  be 
sensible  that  we  are  well  jjleascd  with  presents.  You  may 
know  this  by  the  influence  of  British  presents.  They  have  won 
to  the  British  cause  many  brave  warriors.  I  hope  that  you 
will  take  much  pains,  now  that  wo  are  at  peace,  in  uniting  all. 
Treat  us  well.  We  in  common  with  you  possess  this  soil. 
AYe  have  frequently  heard  your  voice,  when  it  v/as  for  our  in- 
terest and  happiness  to  listen  to  it.  It  would  conduce  much 
to  our  hajjpiness  to  listen  to  the  voice  of  the  United  States, 
and  not  be  poisoned  by  the  language  of  the  red-coats.  To 
make  us  happy  do  not  crowd  our  seats.  When  you  jiurchase 
lands  still  leave  us  some  to  move  upon.  This  you  will  make 
known  to  our  Father  the  President,  and  solicit  his  aid  in  open- 
ing our  passage  across  the  water  to  our  friends. 

"  Brotiieus  op  the  Delawaues  : — We  received  a  message 
fom  you  a  number  of  years  since,  ofl'ering  us  a  seat  of  land  in 
your  country.  You  said  you  had  not  forgot  the  favors  hereto- 
fore received  from  the  Six  Nations,  who  took  you  under  their 
care,  until  at  length  you  travelled  west  to  the  country  of  White 
River.  As  you  say  you  have  not  forgot  jnist  favors,  are  you 
now  willing  to  offer  the  Six  Nations,  or  any  part  of  them,  a 
seat  in  your  country  1  This  invitation  has  been  often  repeated. 
We  now  come  forward  to  accept  the  offer.  We  request  you 
will  designate  its  extent,  situation  and  boundary.  We  have 
applied  to  our  Father  the  President  for  leave  to  move  into 
that  country,  and  to  be  assured  that  he  will  confirm  your  grant. 
We  find  it  is  necesdary  by  his  answer,  that  when  you  shall 
make  such  a  grant,  it  must  be  done  on  paper,  so  that  such 


<' ,  i 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


289 


conveyance  may  be  confn-mecl.  We  should  be  unwilling  to 
leave  oui'  present  seats  without  a  secure  and  permanent  grant, 
securing  a  Heut  for  us,  our  children,  and  children's  children  to 
the  remotest  gencrritinn.  We  request  that  if  you  are  not  au- 
thorized of  yiiuiselvos  to  mako  such  location,  you  will  com- 
municate our  wishes  l-i  the  neighboring  nations,  proprietors  of 
the  land,  that  they  may  make  such  location.  This  seat  we 
shall  expect  to  receive  not  as  our  exclusive  property,  but  to  be 
held  in  common  for  the  benefit,  as  well  of  such  of  the  Six 
Nations  who  may  wish  to  settle  upon  it,  as  of  any  other  In- 
dians who  may  choose  to  take  their  seats  there  with  us." 

Such  is  the  only  report  preserved  of  Red-Jacket's 
speech  at  this  great  council,  the  apparent  design  of 
which  was  entirely  of  a  pacific  character,  intended  by 
the  Indians  to  heal  the  wounds  amonn;  each  other  inflic- 
ted  during  the  then  recent  war  between  the  United 
Statos  and  England,  in  which  they  had  indiscreetly 
taken  a  part,  and  likewise  to  improve  their  social  con- 
dition, by  means  of  a  more  extensive  and  perfect  union 
among  themselves.  The  speech  has  lost  much  of  its 
Indian  character  in  the  process  of  translation,  or  else 
Red-Jacket's  language  and  course  of  thinking  had  be- 
come somewhat  assimilated  to  those  of  the  white  man. 
Still,  the  character  of  the  speech  was  well  adapted  to 
the  occasion,  and  its  counsels  were  those  of  wisdom. 
It  is,  moreover,  worthy  of  preservation,  not  only  as  ap- 
pertaining to  the  life  of  Red- Jacket,  but  as  forming  a 
fragment  of  Indian  history.  Mr.  Hosmer,  who  took 
down  the  speech  from  the  lips  of  the  interpreter,  notes 
that  the  orator  concluded  by  a  general  address  to  the 
council,  recommending  the  cultivation  of  friendly  inter- 

37 


''.mi 

M 


I 

i 


J 


lit 


Ml  l! 


I:  i 


!i 


ii    ! 


'.1 


)) 


\  y\ 


':■    M 


i^t '. ' 


i ' 


290 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


course  among  themselves, — and  at  the  close  gave  them 
a  string  of  wampum  whicli  he  called  "  the  path  of 
peace."  He  again  admonished  them  to  avoid  the  Bri- 
tish and  their  shores,  and  to  hold  their  communications 
on  the  south  side  of  the  lakes. 

On  the  day  following  the  speakers  of  the  several  na- 
tions addressed  by  Red-Jacket  made  their  replies.  The 
Wyandots  spoke  first,  L^  Tcfir-unk-to-yor-on,  or  "  Be- 
tween-the-Logs,"  as  follows  : — 


"  Brotiieiis  of  the  Six  Nations  : — You  say  that  at  Browns- 
to^vn  was  a  great  council  fire,  whose  smoke  ascended  to  the 
lieavens.  I  must  remind  you  of  an  omission.  At  that  fire 
was  a  large  tree.  A  strong  root  ran  to  the  east.  At  its  foot 
lay  a  staff"  and  a  broom.  The  root  moving  eastward  was  to 
represent  tlio  Six  Nations.  The  staff"  was  fijr  tlio  support  of 
the  aged,  who  sought  shelter  there.  The  broom  to  brush 
away  any  destructive  worm,  or  other  thing  that  might  en- 
danger the  tree." 

[The  orator  next  proceeded  to  rehearse  the  speech  of 
Red-Jacket,  as  the  Indian  manner  is,  in  order  to  show 
that  all  had  been  understood.     He  then  said : — ] 

Brother  : — This  has  been  your  conversation  as  I  have  re- 
hearsed it.  You  have  appointed  this  place  for  the  council  fire 
of  the  Six  Nations.  As  it  is  your  choice  we  accept  it  as  a 
friendly  act  toward  us.  Brothers,  we  return  you  many  thanks, 
warriors  and  women  all.  You  may  expect  due  attention  paid 
to  it. 

"  Brother  : — Wo  are  hapjiy  to  hear  tliat  you  have  not  for- 
got tlie  customs  of  our  forefatliors.  By  these  strings, — do  not 
think  them  too  small, — you  will  return  to  your  respective  na- 
tions, and  say  their  wishes  are  accepted  of     As  to  your  request 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


291 


that  we  use  our  influeuce  in  getting  back  our  brothers  beyond 
the  water,  we  will  do  so.  We  will  use  our  best  endeavors  to 
win  them  back  by  gentle  means.  You  may  expect  that  our 
younger  brethren,  the  Shawanese,  and  our  nephews,  the  Dela- 
wares,  will  unite  with  us  in  recalling  the  dispersed  of  our  tribes. 
And  now,  Brothers,  1  enjoin  that  you  do  the  saiuv;  thing  on 
your  part.  You  are  similarly  situated.  This  wintei-  will  pass 
and  the  next  summer  will  come,  before  we  shall  hear  from  you 
again  on  this  subject.  I  am  not  certain  whether  we  shall  come 
to  you,  or  you  to  us.  We  will  take  care  to  suppress  our  pride, 
and  lest  I  should  be  thought  to  possess  it,  I  will  say  but  little. 
It  is  easy  to  say  all  that  is  necessary. 

"  Brothers  : — As  to  your  speech  yesterday,  relative  to  our 
assisting  our  sachems,  depend  upon  it  we  will  take  due  care; 
if  we  see  any  thing  go  amiss,  we  will  put  it  right.  Do  you  the 
same.  It  has  often  been  an  injury  that  the  counsels  of  the 
war  chiefs  have  not  been  heard.  We  have  now  closed  our  re- 
ply to  your  speech.  You  will  now  open  your  ears  to  the  re- 
ply of  the  Shawanese." 


11        >! 


1  m 


!-:!■  "^fl 


The  Shawanese  chief,  Cutte-wc-ga-saw,  commonly 
called  Black-loot,  then  spoke  to  the  ibllowing  eflect : — 

"  Brothers  of  the  Six  Nations  : — \Vc  heard  you  yester- 
day. You  shall  soon  hear  our  rejily.  Wc  are  pleased  that 
the  co'incil  fire  is  established  at  this  place  by  our  friemls  the 
Wyandots,  and  that  our  Brothers,  the  Six  Nations,  have  agreed 
to  unite  with  us. 

"Brother: — I  remember  what  you  said  relative  to  our 
people  being  dispersed.  Some  of  them  are  scattered,  it  is 
true,  and  I  shall  do  all  in  my  power  to  colloc  t  llieni.  What 
you  say  relative  to  our  making  clitlicullies  1  admit  is  truth. 
The  way  it  haj)poncd  was  this :  A  man  camo  among  us  who 
pretended  he  had  communication  with  the  Great  Spirit,*  and 

•  Elskawatwa,  the  brothnrof  Tccumsch. 


fl:i 


I, 

SI 


21 


II 


292 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


M.  I 


uM 


that  if  we  followed  him  we  could  regain  our  lands.  The 
whites  were  crowding  upon  us.  He  said  they  would  eat  land, 
and  that  they  would  soon  eat  all  our  land  up.  I  was  deceived 
and  led  away  by  him,  and  many  of  my  nation.  We  took  him 
for  the  Great  Spirit.  But  we  soon  found  him  to  be  a  devil, 
and  forsook  him.  This  great  man,  who  pretended  to  be  the 
Great  Sj)irit,  has  not  only  intermeddled  with  us,  but  he  has 
been  among  you,*  and  has  misled  many  of  all  nations.  I  am 
not  sur^jrised  that  you  should  bring  this  charge  against  us. 
This  prophet  exerted  such  influence  over  us  that  we  were  no 
longer  governed  by  our  ancient  customs,  but  were  entirely  led 
by  him.  You,  my  elder  brother,  are  of  the  same  people  who 
flocked  to  him,  and  listened  to  him,  expecting  he  would  carry 
his  point,  I  disbelieved  it.  You,  when  you  went  there,  were 
shown  a  great  map,  and  on  it  the  prophet  traced  out  a  great 
tract  of  land  for  you  on  the  Wabash,  which  was  promised  you. 
There  was  a  battle  there,  and  some  of  your  men  were  in  it ; 
and  there  were  others  on  the  way  who  did  not  arrive  in  season. 
The  next  j^lace  where  we  found  the  prophet  was  at  Maiden, 
with  some  of  the  Senecas  as  his  followers.  And  this  man  was 
the  cause  of  tlie  destruction  of  our  council  fire  at  lirownstown. 
This  prophet  was  driven  back  into  Canada.  He  again  at- 
tempted to  strengthen  himself.  He  promised  to  your  peojile 
the  land  on  the  Wabash.  We  heard  it.  Of  all  our  jjcople 
who  followed  the  prophet,  only  eight  families  remain  with 
him.     His  power  is  broken.     He  is  nothing." 


The  council  was  next  addressed  by  a  chief  called 
Colonel  Lewis,  but  his  nation  is  not  designated  in  Mr. 
Hosmer's  manuscript.  He  expressed  his  concurrence 
in  the  views  presented  by  Red-Jacket,  and  exhorted  the 
Indians  to  be  of  one  mind,  and  as  Americans  all,  to  be 


1 


*  Alluding  to  tlio  fact  that  luine  of  thu  warriurs  uf  lliu  Six  Natiuiis  wcro  in  tlio 
battlu  of  Tiiipccoiioc. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


293 


"h 


faithful  and  true.     He  was  succeeded  by  Black- Hoof, 
(of  what  nation  is  not  stated,)  who  said  : — 

"  Brotheus  of  the  Wyandots  : — You  have  invited  me  to 
this  council,  and  you  see  me  standing  before  you.  I  address 
myself  to  all  present.  I  have  heard  all  that  has  been  said,  and 
am  well  pleased  with  it.  I  agree  with  my  brothers  the  Wy- 
andots, in  all  they  have  said.    ' 

"  Broth Eus  of  the  Six  Nations  : — You  were  the  first  to 
make  away  with  your  lands,  on  which  you  ought  to  have  reared 
your  women  and  children.  You  advise  us  to  take  good  care 
of  our  lands.  We  thank  you  for  that  counsel,  and  are  very 
sorry  you  did  not  take  better  care  of  yours.  We  now  give  the 
same  advice  to  you.  Take  care  of  your  land.  We  shall  take 
good  care  of  ours.  We  have  not  much  left.  But  what  we 
have  we  mean  to  keep,  and  we  recommend  the  same  counsel 
to  our  brothers  the  Wyandots.  Wo  have  made  peace  with 
the  L'nitcd  States,  and  I  shall  keep  it.  To  my  brothers  the 
Wyandots  I  recommend  that  great  care  should  be  taken  of 
their  lands.  Let  the  rights  of  all  be  established  and  carcfui'y 
guarded. 

"  My  Buotiieus  op  the  Dei.awaues  : — I  understand  you 
have  promised  a  scat  to  the  Henecus.  I  invite  your  attention 
to  this  subject.  I  have  frequently  talked  with  the  President, 
He  has  sent  Mr.  Johnson  as  our  agent,  through  whom  we  may 
communicate  with  him.  If  you  have  anything  to  do  in  trans- 
ferring your  land,  consult  him. 

"  JiuoTiiEu  Senegas:  1  wish  to  remind  you  of  one  thing. 
I  uiirliMstand  our  brotliers,  the  Dclawares,  have  invited  you  to 
set'le  at  White  River.  They  own  no  land,  and  were  only 
jjcrraitted  to  -ettle  there  and  hunt.  But  they  have  been  there 
so  long  tliat  they  pretend  a  claim,  and  have  in  two  instances 
made  sales  of  land." 

Tlio  Dclawares,  their  chief  being  absent,  dcchncd 
saying  any  thing  in  reply  to  the  imputation  of  having 


.  I. 


!:     1 


:"■•  \ 


i    •    :)' 


I      '.H 


^   \ 


294 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


HA 


sold  what  was  not  their  own ;  neither  did  Red- Jacket 
respond  to  the  sharp  rebuke  directed  to  the  Six  Nations, 
for  having  been  among  the  first  after  the  war  of  the  re- 
vohition  to  dispose  of  their  domains.  No  farther  infor- 
mation in  regard  to  this  council  has  been  obtained  from 
the  manuscripts  of  Mr.  Hosmcr,  or  from  any  other 
source.  As  it  was  a  meeting  in  which  the  United 
States  had  no  concern,  the  archives  of  tlie  Indian 
bureau  contain  nothing  respecting  it ;  and  the  council 
seems  to  have  broken  up  without  the  adoption  of  defini- 
tive measures  of  any  description,  for  the  benefit  of  any 
of  the  parties  concerned  therein. 

But  in  the  summer  of  1819,  the  Ogdcn  Company  de- 
termined to  open  negotiations  directly  with  the  Seneca 
chiefs,  for  the  purpose  either  of  securing  their  removal 
from  all  the  reservations  yet  held  by  them,  or  of  in- 
ducing them  to  concentrate  the  several  frac;ments  of 
their  nation  upon  a  single  one  of  these  reservations.  Ar- 
rangements having  been  made  for  holding  a  treaty  with 
them  at  Buffalo,  the  Hon.  Morris  S.  Miller  was  appointed 
a  commissioner  to  conduct  the  proceedings  by  the  Uni- 
ted States.*  Tlie  Hon.  Nathaniel  (Jorham,  of  Canan- 
daigua,  was  designated  by  Massachusetts,  as  agent  to 
attend  the  ncgotiation.t  Tlie  council  was  opened  on  the 
6th  of  July, — Colonel  Ogden  and  his  associates  being 
present,  with  Cuptain  Parish,  the  interpreter.     Major 

*  Mr.  Millor  is  since  deceased.  He  was  a  rcsidont  o(  Oiioidii  County,  and 
was  for  several  years  an  able  mcinbor  of  Congress  from  Oneida. 

t  From  her  former  interest  in  the  Indian  country  of  western  New-York,  Mas- 
gncliuii'tls  lias  ever  appointed  an  agent  to  attend  those  land  negotiations  with  the 
Sunucas,  for  tlio  purpose  of  guarding;  them  from  wrong. 


:;.ih  \ 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


295 


Joseph  Delafield,  at  that  time  an  agent  of  the  United 
States  for  the  adjustment  of  boundaries  under  tlie  sixth 
article  of  the  treaty  of  Ghent,  happening  to  be  in  the 
village  of  Buffalo,  and  having  a  few  days  of  leisure  on 
his  hands,  complied  with  a  request  from  Judge  Miller  to 
act  as  secretary. 

It  was  well  known  that  Red-Jacket  was  to  appear  in 
the  character  of  principal  speaker  in  opposition  to  the  ob- 
jects of  the  land  company,  and  the  deep  and  general  in- 
terest felt  in  the  result  of  the  negotiation  drew  together 
a  large  concourse  of  people, — pale  faces  and  red.  No 
subsequent  assemblage  of  Indians  within  the  State  of 
New- York  has  presented  so  numerous  and  imposing  an 
array,  nor  is  it  likely  that  so  many  of  them  will  ever 
again  meet  upon  the  soil  of  their  fathers. 

The  council  having  been  opened  for  business.  Captain 
Pollard,  the  brave  Seneca  chief  who  had  signalized  him- 
self upon  the  war-path  in  the  Niagara  campaign  of  1814, 
rose  to  welcome  the  commissioner  and  the  other  officers, 
agents,  and  parties  in  attendance  upon  the  council, — a 
duty  which  he  performed  with  much  courtesy.  The 
credentials  of  the  commissioner  on  the  part  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  having  been  read  and  interpreted.  Judge  Mil- 
ler proceeded  to  explain  the  objects  of  his  mission. 


".| 


!;i 


ii  i) 


;1 


\  ! 
■'1  ■ 


i 


I  :  •  f. 


"  Ho  stated  that  their  great  Father  (tho  President)  had  de- 
puted him  to  meet  them  at  their  council  fire  :  that  he  came  to 
give  them  his  good  advice,  and  tho  assurance  of  tlieir  great 
Father,  who  protected  both  the  red  and  the  white  men,  that  it 
was  his  wish  to  extend  to  them  security  and  tlie  usefid  arts. 
That,  situated  as  they  now  were,  his  wishes  would  not  be  so 


ir 


^1 


M  :■ 


'■ 


296 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


well  effected  as  if  the  Indians  were  more  closely  concentrated. 
He  explained  to  them  the  tenures  by  which  they  held  their 
reservations  ;  the  rights  of  the  pre-emptioncrs,  and  the  guar- 
dianship of  the  United  States.  He  then  submitted  to  them 
these  several  propositions  : — First,  that  they  should  all  con- 
centrate on  the  Alleghany  reservation,  the  title  to  which 
should  be  ceded  to  them  in  fee,  as  white  men  hold  their  lands. 
Second,  if  they  preferred  to  join  their  red  brothers  at  Sandusky, 
or  to  settle  in  the  Territories  of  the  United  States,  upon  other 
lands  to  be  given  to  them,  they  were  at  liberty  to  do  so.  In 
case  they  chose  the  latter  proposition,  the  offer  made  by  their 
great  Father  was  not  to  impair  the  price  they  were  to  receive 
from  the  pre-emptioncrs,  nor  in  any  manner  to  influence  the 
bargains  to  be  made.  It  was  meant  as  a  free  gift,  and  for  the 
mutual  benefit  of  the  red  and  white  men.  Judge  Miller  pro- 
ceeded with  much  eloquence  to  describe  the  present  situation 
of  the  Six  Nations,  more  paiticularly  that  of  the  Scnecas, 
and  predicted  the  time  when  they  must  be  overwhelmed  by 
the  force  of  the  white  population,  if  they  continued  in  their 
little  villages  so  closely  surrounded.  He  cautioned  them 
against  the  antipathies  of  bad  men,  and  against  the  hasty  adop- 
tion of  the  advice  of  good  white  men,  and  concluded  by  ad- 
monishing them  that  they  must  reflect  more  for  themselves, 
and  take  time  to  deliberate  in  council." 


ftlH^i 


An  adjournmeiit  was  then  proposed  by  Governor  Og- 
den,  to  give  time  to  consider  these  propositions,  where- 
upon Captain  Pollard  spoke  as  follows  : — 


"  Brothers  :  We  have  listened  attentively  to  what  the  com- 
missioner has  said  to  us  :  as  well  to  the  authority  by  which  he 
meets  us  at  this  council  as  also  to  the  views  our  groat  Father  the 
President  entertains,  relative  to  the  affairs  of  his  red  cliildren 
here.  In  doing  this,  brother,  you  have  addressed  yourself 
principally  to  the  Senccas.     The  Six   Nations  are  present. 


i^ 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


297 


They  are  our  confederates.  For  myself,  I  am  gratified  that 
they  are  present,  and  that  they,  too,  have  heard  what  you  have 
said  to  us.  You  have  told  us,  that  the  propositions  which  we 
now  hear  from  our  great  Father  have  not  been  made  by  him 
in  haste  ;  that  he  has  deliberated  a  long  time,  and  taken  a  full 
view  of  the  interests  of  his  white  and  red  children.  In  doing 
this,  he  has  sometimes  addressed  the  Senecas,  sometimes  the 
Six  Nations.  He  has  considered  fully,  you  tell  us,  the  situa- 
tion of  his  red  children,  and  he  knows  their  wants,  their  pov- 
erty, and  their  troubles.  You  have  tolu  us,  too,  of  his  solici- 
tude for  the  red  men,  and  also  of  the  solicitude  of  his  great  coun- 
cil, as  expressed  during  the  last  year.  You  are  not  now  to 
expect  that  wo  will  reply  to  these  subjects.  We  think  it  proper 
now  to  make  but  a  short  talk  ;  to  thank  you  for  what  we  have 
heard,  and  to  thank  the  President  for  what  he  has  said  to  us 
through  you,  to  which  we  have  listened  attentively.  We  re- 
joice that  this  council  has  been  made  so  public.  We  are 
pleased  that  so  many  white  men  have  attended.  We  rejoice 
that  your  squaws  have  come  with  you,  and  we  thank  you  that 
they  are  present." 

Then  turning  to  Colonel  Ogden,  he  proceeded  : — 

"  The  Commissioner  has  not  spoken  solely  to  the  red  men. 
You  are  also  interested  in  what  our  Great  Father  has  said,  and 
the  result  of  this  council  will  also  interest  you  as  well  as  us. 
After  our  brother's  talk  you  told  us  this,  and  that  you  wanted 
time  to  reflect  upon  the  jiropositions,  which  are  serious  and 
imjiortant.  We  too,  brother,  have  had  a  short  consultation 
upon  your  proposal  to  meet  the  day  after  to-morrow.  We  wish- 
to  give  you  time,  and  to  have  time  ourselves  to  hold  our  coun- 
cils, and  to  reflect.  .'e  will  meet  you  again  the  day  after  to- 
morrow. Knowing  that  our  proceedings  are  slow  and  dilatory, 
and  not  like  yours,  we  propose  to  meet  you  at  10  o'clock  on 
that  day." 

The  Commissioner  then  explained  that  he  had  ad- 

38 


II!: 

1 , 


^^i 


^ 
1 


\i 
It] 


I'    li' 


:.|ij 

r 

'Hi 

m 

298 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


I;  ':i  ihi 


dressed  the  Senecas  more  particularly,  because  his  com- 
mission appointed  him  to  treat  with  that  nation  ;  but  as 
the  Six  Nations  were  assembled,  he  had  also  addressed 
them  jointly ;  and  again  advising  them  to  a  full  and  calm 
deliberation,  the  council  was  adjourned. 

The  council  fire  was  re-kindled  by  Red-Jacket  on  the 
7th  of  July,  who  spoke  as  follows  : — 


?V^ 


:'i 


m 


"  Brothers  : — Wc  have  been  preserved  in  health,  strength 
and  spirit,  to  meet  you  again  at  our  council  fire.  The  Great 
Spirit  has  protected  us,  and  we  are  thankful  again  to  meet 
you.  You  will  recollect,  brothers,  that  we  listened  with  atten- 
tion to  what  the  Commissioner  said,  and  to  the  words  of  our 
Great  Father  throun;h  his  mouth.  As  this  council  was  called 
by  the  voice  of  our  Great  Father,  you  barely  told  us  of  his 
care  for  his  red  children.  You  further  promised  us  that  the 
Yorkers,  (meaning  the  pre-emptioners,)  had  communications 
for  us.  Wc  now  welcome  you  all  to  this  council,  and  are 
ready  to  hear  what  you  have  to  say.  We  sec  here  our  brother 
from  Massachusetts.  He,  too,  is  welcome,  and  we  are  ready 
to  hear  from  him. 

"  Brothers  : — We  wish  you  to  open  your  minds  to  us.  Let 
us  hear  frankly  all  that  you  have  to  communicate,  that  we 
may  be  ready  to  answer." 


!i 


Having  thus  spoken,  Red-Jacket  resumed  his  seat, 
and  Judge  Gorham  addressed  the  council,  approving 
of  the  propositions  in  behalf  of  the  company,  from  the 
President.  Mr.  David  A.  Ogden  succeeded  him,  and 
discussed  at  greater  length  the  views  of  the  pre-emp- 
tioners,—explaining  the  nature  and  extent  of  their  rights, 
and  the  relations  subsisting  respectively  between  the 
Indians  and  the  United  States,  the  state  of  Massachu- 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


299 


setts,  and  the  company.  In  conclusion,  he  offered  in  be- 
half of  the  company  to  accede  to  the  propositions  that 
had  been  submitted  by  the  commissiono  'it  the  first 
meeting.  Red-Jacket  then  addressed  the  council  and 
said : — 

"  We  have  now  heard  our  great  Father  and  Mr.  Ogden. 
We  must  take  time  to  deliberate  upon  these  propositions  and 
agreements.  When  we  are  ready  wo  will  send  you  word. 
We  are  slow,  and  the  subjects  are  important.  We  have 
nothing  farther  to  decide  at  this  council  fire." 

The  council  convened  again  on  the  9  Ji  of  July,  when 
Red-Jacket,  first  addressing  the  commissioner,  spoke  at 
large  as  follows  : — 

"  Brother  :  We  understand  that  you  have  been  appointed 
by  our  great  Father  the  President  to  make  these  communica- 
tions to  us.  We  thank  the  Great  Spirit  for  this  pleasant  day 
given  us  for  our  reply,  and  we  beg  you  to  listen. 

"  Brother:  Previous  to  your  arrival  at  this  council  fire,  we 
were  told  that  our  great  Father  had  appointed  a  commissioner 
to  meet  us.  You  have  produced  your  commission,  and  it 
has  been  read  and  explained  to  us.  You  have  also  explained 
the  object  of  your  mission,  and  the  wishes  of  the  President  in 
sending  you  to  the  council  fire  of  the  Six  Nations.  We  do 
not  doubt  that  the  sealed  document  you  produced  contained 
the  words  of  the  President,  our  great  Father.  When  first  in- 
formed of  your  appointment,  we  supposed  that  you  were 
coming  to  meet  us  on  a  very  different  subject.  Since  the  war 
of  the  revolution  we  have  held  various  councils  with  our  white 
brothers,  and  in  this  same  manner.  We  have  made  various 
speeches  and  entei'ed  into  several  treaties,  and  these  things 
are  well  known  to  our  great  Father ;  they  are  lodged  with 
him.     We,  too,  perfectly  understand  them  all.     The  same  in- 


Pit 


I  ' 

n 

"'*, 

\ 

,■ 

I 

1 

i'. 

it 

'v. 

'  j 

'-1 

1   ■■> 

•  i!; '' 

!■: . 

y^il 

.'.   1 

f^ 

■  f 

1  >l\ 


'       '^[iit 


i  h 


Im 


300 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


l!i 


!^1 


I'j    . 


terpreters  were  then  present  as  now.       In  consequence  of 
what  took  ])lace  during  the  late  war,  we  made  it  known  to  our 
great  Fatlier,  through  our  interpreter,  that  we  wished  to  have 
a  talk.     Our  application  was  not  complied  with.     We  sent  a 
messenger  to  brighten  the  chain  of  friendsh  p  with  our  gieat 
Father,  but  ho  would  not  meet  around  the  council  fire,  and  we 
were  disapjiointed.     We  had  supposed  that  the  commissioner 
he  has  now  sent  came  forward  to  brighten  the  chain  of  friend- 
ship, to  renew  former  engagements.     When  we  made  a  treaty 
at  Canandaigua  with  Colonel  Pickering,  in  1794,  we  were  told 
and  thought  that  it  was  to  be  permanent,  and  to  be  lasting  be- 
tween us  and  the  United  States  forever.     After  several  treaties 
had  been  entered  into  under  our  great  Father,  General  Wash- 
ington, large  delegations  from  the  Six  Nations  were  invited  to 
meet  him.      AVe  went   and  met  him  in  Philadelphia.     We 
kindled  a  council  fire.     A  treaty  was  then  made,  and  General 
Washington  then  declared  that  it  should  bn  permanent  be- 
tween the  red  and  white  brothers  :  that  i!   should  b     spread 
out  on  the  largest  and  strongest  rocks  that  nothing  could  un- 
dermine or  break ;  tlip.t  it  should  be  exposed  to  the  view  of  all. 
"  Brother  :  We  shall  now  see  what  has  been  done  by  the 
United  States.     After  this  treaty  had  been  formed,  I  then  said 
that  I  did  not  doubt  but  that  the  United  States  would  faith- 
fully perform  their  engagements.     But  I  told  our  white  bro- 
thers at  that  time,  that  I  fea/(  i  eventually  they  would  wish  to 
disturb  those  contracts.     You  white  brothers  have  the  faculty 
to  burst  the  stoutest  rocks.     On  our  part  we  would  not  have 
disturbed  those  treaties.     Shortly  after  our  intci-view  with  our 
great  Father,  General  Washington,  at  Philadelphia,  a  treaty 
was  made  at  Canandaigua,  by  which  we  v/idened  our  former 
engagements  with  our  white  brothers,  and  m.ade  some  new 
ones.     The  commissioner, — Colonel  Pickering, — then  told  us 
that  this  treaty  should  be  binding  and  should  last  without  alte- 
ration for  two  lives.     We  wished  to  make  it  extend  much  far- 
ther, and  the  Six  Nations  then  wished  to  establish  a  lasting 
chain  of  friendship.     On  our  part,  we  wished  the  treaty  to 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


301 


last  as  long  as  trees  grow  and  waters  rui.      Our  broti       told 
us  that  he  would  agree  to  it. 

"  Brotiiek  :  I  have  reminded  you  what  had  taken  place  be- 
tween our  confederates,  the  Six  Nations,  and  our  white  bro- 
thers, down  to  the  treaty  of  Canandaigua.  At  the  close  of 
that  treaty  it  was  agreed, — it  being  as  strong  and  binding  as 
by  my  former  comparisons  1  have  explained, — that  if  any  dif- 
ficulty should  occur,  if  any  monster  should  cross  the  chain  of 
friendship,  that  we  would  unite  to  remove  those  difficulties,  to 
drive  away  the  monster ;  that  we  would  go  hand  in  hand  and 
prolong  the  chain.     So  it  was  agreed. 

"  Brother  :  xVIany  years  ago  we  discovered  a  cloud  rising 
that  darkened  the  prospect  of  our  peace  and  happiness.  Wc 
heard  eventful  things  from  different  quarters,  from  different 
persons,  and  at  difi'erent  times,  and  foresaw  that  the  period 
was  not  very  distant,  when  this  threatening  cloud  would  burst 
upon  us. 

"Brother:  During  the  late  war  we  intended  to  take  no 
part.  Yet  residing  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States,  and 
with  the  advice  of  General  Porter,  we  agreed  around  our 
councii  fire  that  it  was  right,  and  we  took  a  part.  We  thought 
it  would  help  to  promote  our  friendship  with  our  white 
brothers,  to  aid  the  arms  of  the  United  States,  and  to  make 
our  present  seats  still  stronger.  These  were  our  reasons. 
What  were  the  results  ?  We  lost  many  of  our  warriors.  We 
spilt  our  blood  in  a  cause  between  you  and  a  people  not  of 
our  color. 

"  Brother  :  These  things  may  be  new  to  you,  but  they  are 
not  new  to  your  government.  Records  of  these  things  are 
with  our  great  Father  the  President.  You  have  come,  there- 
fore, for  a  very  different  purpose  from  the  one  we  expected. 
You  come  to  tell  us  of  our  situation,  of  our  reservations,  of 
the  opinions  of  the  President  that  we  must  change  our  old 
customs  for  new  ones  ;  that  we  must  concentrate  in  order  to 
enjoy  the  fair  means  you  offer  of  civilization  and  improvement 
in  the  arts  of  agriculture. 


k 


' 


'  J-':f' 


'I,     I 


I 


Wr-^ 


I'  '■• 


'f,' 


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I 

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302 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


\X' 


i\:,'. 


"  Brother  :  At  the  treaty  of  Canandaigua  we  were  pro- 
mised that  different  kinds  of  mechanics, — blacksmitlis  and  car- 
penters,— should  be  sent  among  us ;  and  farmers  with  their 
families,  that  our  women  might  learn  to  spin.  We  agi'eed  to 
receive  them.  We  even  applied  for  these  benefits.  We  were 
told  that  our  children  were  too  young  to  be  taught.  Neither 
farmers  nor  mechanics  were  sent. 

"  Brother  :  We  had  thought  that  the  promises  made  by 
one  president  were  handed  down  to  the  next.  We  do  not 
change  our  chiefs  as  you  do.  Since  these  treaties  were  made 
you  have  had  several"  presidents.  We  do  not  understand  why 
the  treaty  made  by  one  is  not  binding  on  the  otlier.  On  our 
part,  we  expect  to  comply  with  our  engagements. 

"  Brother  :  You  told  us  when  the  country  was  surrounded 
by  whites,  and  in  possession  of  Indians,  that  it  was  unproduc- 
tive, not  being  liable  to  taxes,  nor  to  make  roads  and  improve- 
ments, it  was  time  to  change.  As  for  the  taxing  of  Indians, 
this  is  extraordinary ;  and  was  never  heard  of  since  the  settle- 
ment of  America.  The  land  is  ours  by  the  gift  of  the  Great 
Spirit.  How  can  you  tax  it  1  We  can  make  such  roads  as 
we  want,  and  did  so  when  the  land  was  all  ours.  Wc  are  im- 
proving in  our  condition.  See  these  large  stocks  of  cattle, 
and  those  fences.  We  are  surrounded  by  the  whites,  from 
whom  we  can  procure  cattle  and  whatever  is  necessary  for 
our  improvement.  Now  that  we  are  confined  to  narrow 
limits,  we  can  easily  make  our  roads  and  improve  our  lands. 
Look  back  to  the  first  settlement  by  the  whites,  and  then  look 
at  our  present  condition.  Formerly,  we  continued  to  grow 
in  numbers  and  in  strength.  What  has  become  of  the  Indians 
who  extended  to  the  salt  waters  1  They  have  been  driven 
back  and  become  few,  while  you  have  been  growing  numer- 
ous and  powerful.  This  land  is  ours  from  the  God  of  Heaven. 
It  was  given  to  us.  We  cannot  make  land.  Driven  back  and 
reduced  as  we  are,  you  wish  to  cramp  us  more  aiid  more. 
You  tell  us  of  a  pre-emptive  right.  Such  men,  you  say,  own 
one  reservation,  and  such  another.    But  they  are  all  ours,— 


im 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


303 


ours  from  the  top  to  the  bottom.  If  Mr.  Ogden  had  come 
from  lieaven,  with  flesh  on  his  bones,  as  we  now  see  him,  and 
said  that  the  Heavenly  Father  had  given  him  a  title,  wc  might 
then  believe  him. 

"  Brother  :  You  say  that  the  President  has  sent  us  word 
that  it  is  for  our  interest  to  dispose  of  our  lands.  You  tell  us 
that  there  is  a  good  tract  of  land  at  Alleghany.  This,  too,  is 
very  extraordinary.  Our  feet  have  covered  every  inch  of  that 
reservation.  A  communication  like  this  has  never  been  made 
to  us  at  any  of  our  councils.  The  President  must  have  been 
disordered  in  mind,  when  he  offered  to  lead  us  off  by  the  anus 
to  the  Alleghany  reservation.  I  have  told  you  of  the  treaty 
we  made  with  tlic  United  States.  Here  is  the  belt  of  wam- 
pum that  confirmed  that  treaty.  Here,  too,  is  the  parchment. 
You  know  its  contents.  I  will  not  open  it.  Now  the  tree  of 
friendship  is  decaying  ;  its  limbs  are  fast  falling  oft'.  You  arc 
at  fault. 

"  Formerly,  we  called  the  British  brothers.  Now  we  call 
the  President  our  Father.  Probably  among  you  aie  persons 
with  families  of  children.  We  consider  ourselves  the  chil- 
dren of  the  President.  What  would  be  your  feelings  were 
you  told  that  your  children  were  to  be  cast  upon  a  naked 
rock,  there  to  protect  themselves.  The  different  claims  you 
tell  us  of  on  our  lands,  I  cannot  understand.  We  are  placed 
here  by  the  Great  Spirit  for  purposes  known  to  him.  You 
have  no  right  to  interfere.  You  told  us  that  we  had  large 
and  unproductive  tracts  of  land.  We  do  not  view  it  so.  Our 
seats,  we  consider  small ;  and  if  we  are  left  here  long  by  the 
Great  Spirit  we  shall  stand  in  need  of  them.  We  shall  be  in 
want  of  timber.  Land  after  many  years'  use  wears  out ;  our 
fields  must  be  renewed,  and  new  ones  improved,  so  that  we 
have  no  more  land  in  our  resei-vations  than  we  want.  Look  at 
the  white  people  around  us  and  back.  You  are  not  cramped 
for  lands.     They  are  large.    Look  at  that  man.*    If  you  want 


Hi'" 


Mr.  EUicott,  the  agent  of  the  Holland  Land  Company. 


304 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


'III 


1!      ,  '1 


lV4i 


;  i-i, 


I't 


to  buy  apply  to  him.  He  has  lands  enough  to  sell.  We  have 
none  to  part  with.  You  laugh,  but  do  not  think  I  trifle.  I  am 
sincere.  Do  not  think  we  are  hasty  in  making  up  our  minds. 
We  have  had  many  councils,  and  thought  for  a  long  time  upon 
this  subject.  We  will  not  part  with  any,— not  with  one  of  our 
reservations. 

"  We  recollect  that  Mr.  Ogden  addressed  his  speech  to  you, 
therefore  I  have  spoken  to  you.  Now  I  will  speak  to  Mr. 
Ogdcn. 

"  BnoTHER :  You  recollect  when  you  first  came  to  this 
ground  that  you  told  us  you  had  bought  the  pre-emptive  riglit, 
— a  right  to  purchase,  given  you  by  the  govermncnt.  Remem- 
ber my  reply.  I  told  you,  you  had  been  unfortunate  in  buy- 
ing. You  .5aid  you  would  not  disturb  us.  I  tlicn  told  you  as 
long  as  I  lived,  you  must  not  come  forward  to  explain  that 
right.  You  have  come.  See  me  before  you.  You  have 
heard  our  reply  to  the  commissioner  sent  by  tlie  President.  I 
again  repeat  that,  one  and  all,  chiefs  and  warriors,  we  are  of 
the  same  mind.  AVe  will  not  part  with  any  of  our  reserva- 
tions. Do  not  make  your  application  anew,  nor  in  any  other 
shape.  Let  us  hear  no  more  of  it.  Let  us  part  as  we  met, — 
in  friendship.  Yo>i  disct)ver  wliite  people  on  our  reservations. 
It  is  my  wish,  and  the  wish  of  all  t)f  us,  to  remove  every  white 
man.  AVe  can  educate  our  children.  Our  reservation  is 
small.  The  white  people  are  near.  8ucli  as  wish  can  send 
their  children  to  tlie  white  people's  schools.  The  school- 
master and  the  i)reacher  must  withdraw.  The  distance  is 
short  for  those  who  wish  to  go  after  them.  We  wish  to  get 
rid  of  all  the  whites.  They  make  disturbances.  We  wish 
our  reservations  clear  of  them." 


.'■1*3;':    ■ 


Colonel  Ogden  and  Judge  IMilh^-  both  mnde  replies  to 
Red-Jacket,  correcting  him  in  several  particulars  wherein 
he  had  misunderstood  them,  as  well  as  the  views  of  the 
President,  Mr.  Monroe.     It  is  but  just,  moreover,  to  say, 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


305 


that  tliese  replies  were  made  with  a  degree  of  fechng 
and  frankness  carrying  with  it  the  conviction  of  a 
sincere  desire  that  the  Indians  should  be  dealt  with 
justly  and  generously.  But  their  l)reath  was  expended 
to  no  good  purpose.  The  counsels  of  Red-.Jacket  pre- 
vailed, and  the  treaty  was  broken  off'  without  even  an 
approach  to  success. 

The  speech  of  Red-Jacket,  it  will  have  been  observed, 
in  some  respects  bordered  upon  rudeness,  and  in  one 
instance  upon  irreverence  to  heaven.  Great  pains  had 
been  taken  by  his  people  that  he  should  Ix;  well  pre- 
pared for  this  council,  and  that  he  should  appear  in  his 
best  condition.  The  consequence  was,  tlint  whatever 
excesses  might  have  marked  his  conduct  before  or  after 
the  council,  there  was  on  this  occasion  no  evidence  of 
intemperance.  On  the  contrar}',  his  personal  conduct 
was  niarlvcd  throughout  by  the  utmost  propriety,  .and  his 
manner  was  calm,  deliber:ite  and  decided.  Still,  there 
had  been  intemperate  expressions  in  his  speech,  which 
gave  pain  to  some  of  the  most  considerate  and  respect- 
able of  the  chiefs,  and  wliich  they  feared  would  be  sources 
of  unpleasant  reflection,  if  not  of  irritation,  1o  ihe  com- 
missioner and  the  other  wliite  gentlemen  of  his  com])any. 
It  must  be  here  remarked  Uiat  the  Senecas  had,  some 
time  before  the  holding  of  this  treaty,  become  tlividcd 
into  two  bodies, — the  Pagan  and  Christian  parties.  At 
the  head  of  the  former  was  Red-Jacket,  of  the  latter,  that 
fine  old  chief  Captain  l*ollard.*     It  was  this  latter  party, 

•  Cnptain  Pollard,  or  Ka-o-un-do-wand,  is  yet  living,  (1841.)  ii  votit'rable  look- 
ing old  man, — wiih  a  finely  developed  lu-iid  whirh  would  foiin  a  noble  subject  of 


i  If 


Mi  M 


'  l' 


n 


I 


if 


306 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


i^'ii 


mt 


!■ : 


r 


I!!;,   !, 


'  ■!. 


^(, 


^ifJi'^i        -i 


h  J 


Mi 


of  course,  that  felt  chngrined  at  some  of  Red-Jacket's 
remarks,  and  they  determined  that  an  apology  or  expla- 
nation ouQ;ht  to  bo  tendered  to  the  commissioner.  On 
the  day  after  the  adjournment  of  the  council,  therefore, 
the  commissioner  received  a  message  from  Captain  Pol- 
lard, informing  him  that  thirteen  of  their  chiefs  were  then 
in  council  deliberating  upon  the  occurrences  of  yester- 
day, and  that  they  wished  to  make  a  communication  to 
him.  In  the  afternoon  a  deputation  of  chiefs  presented 
themselves,  consisting  of  Young  King,  Pollnrd,  De- 
stroy-Town,  Jim  Nickerson,  White  Seneca  and  Captain 
Johnson,  when  Pollard,  addressing  the  commissionerj 
said : — 

"  Brother  :  You  recollect  what  took  place  in  council  yes- 
terday. Tlio  speaker  first  made  a  reply  to  you,  and  then  to 
the  proprietors.  You  must  have  discovered  some  things  in 
that  reply  that  were  not  correct,  and  some  that  were  impro- 
per. You  must  also  have  observed  from  our  dificrent  meet- 
ings that  there  was  a  division  among  ourselves.  This  is  true. 
It  has  been  so  for  a  long  time.  We,  althougli  a  minority, 
have  been  reflecting,  for  a  long  time,  how  we  could  adopt  the 
advice  of  good  white  men,  and  how  it  could  bo  possible  that 
you  would  have  told  us  any  thing  that  did  not  come  from  the 
President  our  great  Father,  when  you  said  it  came  fiom  him. 
An  intimation  of  this  kind,  you  might  have  perceived,  was 
given.  The  speaker  yesterday  acknowledged  your  authority, 
and  that  your  commission  contained  the  President's  words ; 
but  ho  did  not  admit  that  your  8ubse(pient  words  came  from 

stuiiy  for  Dr.  Conibc.  The  miilini-  visifod  liim  in  ihn  Qiiinmn  of  1038,  to  mnke 
corliiin  liisl(pririil  in(]uiriiM  (•(iniii'i-trd  with  tlii^  invasiim  of  Wyimiiiip.  I'ollnrd 
V.  as  a  young  chief  in  that  bloudy  expedition.  He  drclnrus  that  neither  Brant 
nor  the  Mohawks  wore  there. 


;  ii;;^  I 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


307 


I  ninke 
'olliird 
Drant 


our  great  Fntlier.  One  cxprcdsion  grieved  us.  He  said 
that  the  Pre  ident,  our  groat  Father,  must  have  been  dis- 
ordered in  mind  to  offer  to  lead  us  off  to  the  Alleghany.  This 
remark  made  us  very  unhappy.  Another  expression  of  his 
was  very  extraordinary, — one  that  we  are  not  accustomed  to. 
He  said  that  if  Mr.  Ogdon  should  come  from  heaven  with  life 
and  with  flesh  on  his  bones,  and  tell  us  he  had  a  title  to  these 
lands,  then  we  might  believe  him.  This  we,  as  Christians, 
think  very  wrong ;  and  it  gave  us  much  pain.  After  the  coun- 
cil dis2)ersed,  the  followers  of  the  speaker  collected  around 
him,  and  took  him  to  task  for  these  things.  They  proposed 
that  an  apology  shouUl  be  made  fur  him.  But  he  said  no  ;  it 
has  gone  forth,  let  it  stand.  This  gives  us  an  opportunity  to 
come  forward.  He  told  you  also  of  many  treaties  down  to 
Pickering's.  Speaking  of  that,  he  exhibited  the  wampum  in 
confirmation,  with  the  parchment.  He  would  not  open  the 
parchment,  saying  that  you  had  a  co[)y  at  Washington,  and 
had  misrepresented  it.  This  we  consider  improper,  nule  and 
indecorous.  He  spoke,  too,  of  our  great  Father  the  Presi- 
dent,— calling  him  President.  We  call  him  and  consider  hira 
as  father,  friend  and  protector.  The  s})eaker  has  attempted 
to  explain  what  he  meant  by  the  disordered  mind  of  the  Pre- 
sident, but  as  we  think,  he  has  made  the  matter  worse, — because 
he  casts  aspersions  upon  the  Quakers,  and  others  who  have 
been  long  praying  for  our  good.  We  view  the  commissioner  as 
coming  from  a  father  to  his  children.  Your  advice  to  concen- 
trate ai/d  imj)rove  in  our  mode  of  agriculture  we  approve  of. 
Wo  see  that  the  time  has  come  when  we  should  change  our  con- 
dition and  improve  our  husbandry.  Hut  we  all  agree  in  what 
he  said  about  parting  with  our  lands ;  and  we  all  agree  that 
his  harsh  and  rude  language  was  improper. 

"  Another  motive  for  asking  this  interview  is,  to  make  you 
acquainted  with  our  peculiar  views  and  feelings.  We,  the 
Scnccas,  arc  divided.  The  Tuscaroras  are  all  united  and 
wish  to  receive  instruction  and  civilization.  The  Alleghanies 
are  divided,  but  are  principally  with  our  party, — wishing  to 
receive  instruction  from  the  whites. 


VI 


'•M  .?! 


I  '' 


i 


'  II 


f 


D  J. I  'I 


308 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


il 


!  I.' 


t 


"  When  I  look  back  among  our  forefathers,  I  see  no- 
thing to  admire,  nothing  I  should  follow,  nothing  to  induce 
me  to  livo  as  they  did.  On  the  contrary,  to  enjoy  life 
I  find  we  must  change  our  condition.  We  who  are 
present  have  famiHes  and  children ;  we  wish  them  to  be 
instructed  and  enlightened, — if  we  have  not  been, — that 
their  eyes  may  be  opened  to  see  the  light,  if  our's  have  not 
been.  Wc  are  getting  old  and  cannot  receive  the  instruction 
we  wisli  our  children  to  have.  Wc  wish  them  to  know  how 
to  manage  their  affairs.  After  we  are  dead  and  gone, — are 
covered  with  the  dust, — they  will  bless  us  for  giving  them  in- 
struction that  our  fathers  had  not  given  us.  The  Tuscaroras 
have  for  a  long  time  received  instruction,  and  they  continue  to 
improve.  They  see  and  know  the  advantage  of  it,  and  their 
children  will  enjoy  it.  We  wish  our  great  Father  the  Presi- 
dc!it  to  know  of  this  interview  and  our  explanations.  Here- 
after when  ho  makes  communications  to  the  S(;nrcas,  we  wish 
to  have  them  made  to  us,  the  Christian  party.  This  we  think 
would  do  good,  and  be  a  lesson  to  our  children.  We  wish  to 
adopt  his  advice  in  improving  our  condition,  because  we  see 
that  by  following  Indian  habits  we  must  decay  and  sink  to 
nothing.  Wo  are  sensible  that  we  cannot  remain  indepen- 
dent, and  would  therefore  wish  to  undergo  a  giadual  change. 
In  cases  of  crimes  committed  we  are  not  independent  now. 
We  are  punished,  and  this  is  right. 

"  One  cause  of  division  among  us  is,  that  one  party  will 
school  their  children,— the  other  will  not.  Another  cause  is, 
the  placing  of  white  men  on  our  lands  as  tenants.  I  did  so, 
because  advised  by  a  white  friend,  and  because  I  wished  to 
show  our  people  how  the  white  men  farmed  the  land."* 

*  The  author  is  indcl)tc'(l  cniirdy  to  the  kindness  of  Mojor  Joseph  Dclnfield 
for  tho  spccrlu's  nt  this  (•iiuiicil,  liy  wIkuii  thoy  were  tnkcti  ch)\vn  from  the  lips  of 
the  iiitf  rpri'tor.  Miijiu  Doliilii-lil  roiiiarUs  in  a  note  ut  tho  close  of  liis  roport, 
which  hns  never  before  met  the  public  eye,  that  tho  speeches  were  tulion  down 
ui  nearly  in  tiic  language  of  the  interpreter  as  was  possible, — such  corn-rtions 
as  were  obviously  necessary  having  been  mudo  ut  tlio  time.     The  only  liberty 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


309 


The  hopes  of  the  pre-emptioners  were  thus  again  de- 
feived  ;  but  they  ceased  not  in  their  efforts  to  accomplish 
their  purposes  by  proposing  treaties,  and  using  such  ap- 
pliances as  were  within  their  power.  Indeed  such  were 
their  perseverance  and  pertinacity  in  pushing  their  de- 
signs, that  the  Indians,  in  their  ignorance,  weie  at  times 
apprehensive  that  means  would  be  found  to  dispossess 
them  of  their  lands  without  their  own  free  consent.  A 
strong  and  eloquent  address  from  the  Senecas  to  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  upon  this  subject,  was 
transmitted  to  Washington  in  January,  previous  to  the 
council  held  by  Judge  Miller,  and  two  years  afterward 
another  appeal  was  made  to  the  executive  of  the  state  of 
New- York, — Governor  De  Witt  Clinton.  In  his  reply  to 
their  memorial,  dated  February  9, 1S20,  Governor  Clinton 
said : — 


"  All  the  right  that  Ogden  and  liis  company  have,  [to  your 
reservations,]  is  the  right  of  purchasing  them  when  you  think 
it  expedient  to  sell  them, — that  is,  they  can  buy  your  lands, 
but  no  othiT  person  can.  You  may  retain  them  as  long  as 
you  please,  and  you  may  sell  them  to  Ogden  as  soon  you 
please.  You  are  the  owners  of  these  lands  in  the  same  way 
that  your  brethren,  the  Oneidas,  are  of  their  reservations. 
They  are  all  that  is  left  of  what  the  Great  Spirit  gave  to  your 
ancestors.     No  man  shall  deprive  you  of  them  without  your 


taken  in  triinscribiii^  lliPiii,  Ims  In'on  to  omit  tlip  ropptitioiis  for  which  both  Red- 
Jackot'a  ami  I'ollard's  speeches  were  rciiimkable.  Tlie  interpreter  stated  that 
ho  could  not  translate  some  of  Red-Jackot'a  figurative  flights, —  they  were  too  wild 
and  ditrii'iilt  to  niip(mr  in  English, — and  ho  did  not  nttompt  it.  Should  his 
speech  bo  improved  by  omitting  its  tautology,  it  has  no  donbt  lost  nuich  of  it! 
most  charucleridtic  beauty  utid  interest  from  thu  acknowledged  ouiissious  uf  the 
interpreter. 


310 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


consent.  The  State  will  protect  you  in  the  full  enjoyment  of 
your  property.  We  are  strong,  and  willing  to  shield  you  from 
oppression.  The  Great  Spirit  looks  down  on  the  conduct  of 
mankind,  and  will  punish  us  if  we  permit  the  remnant  of  the 
Indian  nations  which  is  with  us  to  be  injured.  We  feel  for 
you,  brethren  :  we  shall  watch  over  your  interests.  We  know 
that  in  a  future  world  we  shall  be  called  upon  to  answer  for 
our  conduct  to  our  fellow  creatures."* 


m. 


r-^ 


l!  I  i ' 


But  the  Anglo-Snxori  race  is  seldom  diverted  from  its 
purpose,  especially  if  that  purpose  be  the  acquisition  of 
territory.  Trenty  after  treaty  succeeded  the  abortive 
council  held  bv  Judtjfe  Miller ;  and  although  at  all  these 
treaties,  so  long  as  he  lived,  Red-Jacket  exerted  himself 
to  the  utmost  to  prevent  the  sale  of  another  rood  of 
ground,  yet  the  arts  and  appliances  of  the  Ogden  Com- 
pany find  its  agents,  by  degrees  prevailed  over  the  pa- 
triotism of  the  Indians,  and  the  chief,  already  stricken 
in  years,  lived  jet  long  enough  to  mourn  the  loss,  by 
piece-meal,  of  almost  the  entire  of  that  beautiful  region 
which  he  loved  so  well,  and  over  which  he  had  been 
wont  to  roam,  frc^e  as  the  air  he  breathed,  with  so  much 
delight. 

A  distinguished  gentleman,  long  a  resident  of  Buffalo, 
has  supplied  a  few  notes  of  one  of  the  treaties  just  re- 
ferred to,  between  the  Senecas  and  the  Ogden  Com- 
pany, and  of  the  part  borno  thereat  by  Red-Jacket, 
which  is  both  spirited  and  interesting.     According  to  the 

*  Mami^prii)t  answer  of  Governor  Clinton,  to  a  gpocch  from  the  Senecas. 
Woulil  llmt  the  I'lovatoil  mornlity  of  tliut  gr^'ut  jiliilniilliropist  liaJ  governed 
every  American  negotiation  with  the  children  of  llic  forest. 


1.  l8 


OF  RED-JACKET, 


311 


memoranda  of  that  gentleman,*  this  treat}'-,  or  council, 
was  holdcn  at  the  Seneca  village  near  BufHilo,  in  1822 
or  1823.  The  council  having  been  addressed  by  the 
commissioner,  and  also  by  Governor  Ogden,  Red-Jacket, 
in  a  single  speech,  replied  to  both.  After  a  concise  and 
appropriate  exordium,  addressing  himself  to  the  com- 
missioner, and  repeating  in  form  the  speech  in  which  the 
desire  of  the  United  States  had  been  communicated,  that 
the  Senecas  should  sell  their  lands,  he  gave  a  succinct 
but  connected  history  of  the  transactions  between  the  In- 
dians and  the  whites,  from  the  first  settlement  of  the 
country,  down  to  that  day.  Some  of  his  figurative  illus- 
trations were  very  happy. 

"  We  first  knew  you,"  said  he,  "  a  feeble  plant  which 
wanted  a  little  earth  whereon  to  grow.  We  gave  it  you, — 
and  afterward,  when  we  could  have  trod  you  under  our  feet, 
we  watered  and  protected  you; — and  now  you  have  grown  to 
be  a  mighty  tree,  whose  top  reaches  the  clouds,  and  whose 
branches  overspread  the  whole  land  ;  whilst  we,  who  were 
then  th )  tall  pine  of  the  forest,  have  become  the  feeble  plant, 
and  need  your  protection." 

Again,  enforcing  the  same  idea,  he  said  : — 

"  When  you  first  came  here,  you  clung  around  our  knee, 
and  called  us  fathvr.  We  took  you  by  the  hand  and  called 
you  BROTHEUs.  You  have  grown  greater  than  we,  so  that  we 
no  longer  can  reach  up  to  your  hand.  But  we  wish  to  cling 
round  your  knee  and  be  called  your  cuu.dren." 

*  Tlio  Hon.  Albert  H.  Trncy. 


*^    ,  t 


.■■•![ 


:i   1 


:  -I 


y-\A 


i:'i 


if 


i,   M't; 


m 


312 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


Referring  to  their  services  in  the  then  recent  war  with 
England,  he  said  : — 


rr 


m  ': 


"  Not  long  ago  you  raised  the  war-club  against  him  who 
was  once  our  great  Father  over  the  waters.  You  asked  us  to 
go  with  you  to  the  war.  It  was  not  our  quarrel.  We  knew 
not  that  you  were  right.  We  asked  not :  we  cared  not :  it 
was  enough  for  us  that  you  were  our  brothers.  We  went 
with  you  to  the  battle.  AVe  fought  and  bled  for  you  : — and 
now,"  said  he  with  great  feeling,  pointing  to  some  Indians 
who  had  been  wounded  in  the  contest,  "  dare  you  pretend  to 
us  that  our  Father  the  President,  while  he  sees  our  blood  run- 
ning yet  fresh  from  the  wounds  received  while  fighting  his 
battles,  has  sent  you  with  a  message  to  persuade  us  to  relin- 
quish the  poor  remains  of  our  once  boundless  possessions, — to 
sell  the  birth-place  of  our  children,  and  the  graves  of  our 
fathers.  No !  Sooner  than  believe  that  he  gave  you  this 
message,  we  will  believe  that  you  have  stolen  your  commis- 
sion, and  are  a  cheat  and  a  liar." 

In  reply  to  an  explanation  as  to  the  nature  of  the  pre- 
emptive claim  of  the  company  to  their  lands,  and  an 
assurance  that  the  object  was  not  to  wrong  them  in  the 
purchase,  but  to  pay  the  full  value,  he  referred  to  the 
different  treaties, — the  great  cessions  the  Indians  had 
made, — the  small  equivalents  they  had  received, — and 
the  repeated  solemn  assurances  given  by  the  govern- 
ment that  they  should  not  be  importuned  to  relinquish 
the  reservations  remaining  to  them. 


"  You  tell  us,"  said  he,  "  of  your  claim  to  our  land,  and 
that  you  have  purcliased  it  from  your  State.  We  know 
nothing  of  your  claim,  and  we  care  nothing  fur  it.  Even  the 
whites  have  a  law,  by  which  they  cannot  sell  what  they  do  not 


T^  -i'. 


!(h 


and 
tnow 
|i  the 

not 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


313 


own.  "^  How,  then,  has  your  state,  which  never  owned  our 
land,  sold  it  to  you  1  We  have  a  title  to  it,  and  we  know  that 
our  title  is  good ;  for  it  came  direct  from  the  Great  Spirit,  who 
gave  it  to  us,  his  red  children.  When  you  can  ascend  to 
wheie  He  is," — pointing  toward  the  skies, — "  and  will  get 
His  decf^  .(id  show  it  to  us,  then,  and  never  till  then,  will 
we  acknowledge  your  title.  You  say  that  you  came  not  to 
cheat  us  of  our  lands,  but  to  buy  them.  Who  told  you  that 
we  have  lands  to  sell  1     You  never  heard  it  from  us." 

Then  drawing  up,  and  giving  Mr.  Ogden  a  look  of 
earnestness,  if  not  of  indignation,  he  said  : — 

"  Did  I  not  tell  you,  the  last  time  we  met,  that  whilst  Red- 
Jacket  lived  you  would  get  no  more  lands  of  the  Indians  ] 
How,  then,  while  you  see  him  alive  and  strong,"  (striking  his 
hand  violently  on  his  breast,)  "  do  you  think  to  make  him  a 
liar  V* 

Red-Jacket  was  doubtless  sincci-e,  at  this  time,  and 
during  the  latter  years  of  his  life,  in  his  opposition  to  any 
farther  disposition  of  their  already  contracted  territory, 

•  Speaking  in  rcforcnce  to  tlie  real  clo(|ucncc  of  Ilod-.Iackot,  the  gcntlomun 
referred  to  in  the  last  note  remarks: — "  It  is  evident  thnl  the  best  tninslations  of 
Indian  speeches  must  fail  to  express  the  beauty  and  sublimity  of  the  originals, — 
especially  of  such  an  original  as  Red-Jacket.  It  has  been  my  good  fortune  to 
hear  him  a  few  times,  but  only  of  late  years,  and  when  his  powers  were  enfeebled 
by  age,  and  still  more  by  intemperance.  But  I  shall  never  forget  the  im- 
pression made  on  me  the  first  time  that  I  saw  hiin  in  council : — 

Deep  on  liis  front  engraven, 
Deliberation  sate,  and  public  caro, 
And  princely  counsel  in  liis  faco  yet  shone, 
Majestic,  tliougli  in  ruin. 

I  can  give  no  adequate  idea  of  the  strong  impression  it  made  upon  my  mind, 
though  conveyed  to  it  through  the  medium  of  an  illiterate  interpreter.  Even  in 
this  mangled  form,  I  saw  the  disjecta  membra  of  a  regular  and  splendid  oration. 

40 


r 

•■ill  I: 


I 


y. 


1 

■  \ 

I 

I 

\ 

It 

^     \ 

i 

I  I. 

;  ill 


314 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


m 


i^ii 


although,  as  has  been  seen  at  an  earlier  stage  of  his 
life,  he  could  speak  with  a  "  forked  tongue"  upon  the 
subject, — declaring  eloquently  in  open  council  against  the 
selling  of  an  acre,  and  meeting  the  agent  of  the  purchase 
by  night  to  facilitate  his  operations.  Bat  however  sin- 
cere at  the  last  mentioned  and  at  subsequent  councils, 
in  his  opposition  to  the  views  of  the  pre-emption  com- 
pany, their  persuasives  were  stronger  than  his, — less 
eloquent,  but  far  more  effective.  It  is  believed  that  no 
sales  of  land  were  made  at  either  of  the  two  councils 
last  mentioned  ;  but  shortly  afterward,  viz.,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1S2G,  another  negotiation  was  opened,  which  was 
attended  by  better  success  for  the  company.  The  com- 
missioner on  the  part  of  the  United  States  was  the  Hon. 
Oliver  Forward,  of  Buffalo.  The  agent  for  the  com- 
monwealth of  ]Massachusett3  was  the  Hon.  Nathaniel 
Gorham.  The  agent  of  the  company  was  John  Greig, 
Esq.,  of  Canandaigua,  who  succeeded  in  extinguishing 
the  Indian  title  to  about  eighty  thousand  acres  of  their 
smaller  reservations  along  the  course  of  the  Genesee 
River,  of  which  there  were  several.  Red-Jacket  par- 
ticipated largely  in  the  proceedings  of  the  council,  and 
opposed  every  cession  step  by  step.  Yet  his  eloquence, 
though  earnest  as  ever,  was  exerted  to  but  little  pur- 
pose ; — the  Indians  acceded  to  the  terms  proposed  to 
them.  After  the  treaty  was  concluded,  and  its  terms  were 
reduced  to  writing,  Mr.  Greig  remarked  to  Red- Jacket 
that  as  he  had  opposed  the  sales  he  need  not  sign  the 
paper.  But  the  chief  would  listen  to  no  such  proposi- 
tion.   He  was  proud  of  having  his  name  appear  upon 


p=f; 


51:  ' 


'?'  #*''lfeS&i. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


315 


[were 

lacket 

(n  the 

bposi- 

upon 


eveiy  document  connected  with  the  fortunes  of  his  peo- 
ple, whether  he  approved  of  them  or  not,  und  insisted 
on  signing  the  instrument,  which  he  accordingly  did.* 
Still,  although  this  negotiation  was  conducted  with  the 
utmost  fairness  in  respect  to  the  Indians,  loud  complaints 
were  made  against  it  by  Red-Jacket  and  the  non-con- 
tents, and  a  commission  was  subsequentlj^  instituted  by 
President  Adams,  to  inquire  into  the  true  character  of 
the  transaction.  This  duty  was  confided  to  Richard 
Montgomery  Livingston,  of  Saratoga.  A  powerful  effort 
was  made  by  Red-Jacket  to  cause  the  treaty  to  be  set 
aside  as  fraudulent,  but  without  success,  and  it  was  al- 
lowed to  be  carried  into  effect.t 

Another  negotiation  was  instituted  in  the  year  1828, 
and  others  still  have  followed,  until,  yielding  to  the  per- 
tinacity of  the  company,  in  the  autumn  of  1839  the  In- 
dians so  far  relinquished  the  contest  that  a  treaty  was 
concluded,  by  virtue  of  which  all  the  remaining  territory 
of  the  Senecas  in  the  state  of  New- York  was  conveyed 

*  Conversations  of  the  Author  with  Mr.  Grcig. 

t  The  treaty  here  referred  to  wad  concluded  on  the  31st  of  August,  18?6.  By 
it  the  Seneca  nation  of  Indians  sold  to  the  proprietors  of  the  pre-emptive  rij,Iit 
87,526  acres  of  their  reservations,  being  33,637  from  the  ButValo,  33,401)  from 
the  Tonnewanta,  5,120  from  the  Cattaraugus,  nil  of  the  Canoadea,  (10,240,)  and 
all  of  theGardow,SquackyHill,  Big  Tree  and  Cana\vi;jus  reservations,  containing 
1,280  acres  each.  The  last  four  were  situated  in  the  county  of  Livingston,  and  con- 
tain each  a  portion  of  the  Genesee  river  flats.  The  papcri  ronnected  with  this 
treaty  were  once  partially  examined  by  the  author,  at  the  house  of  the  late  Mr.  Liv- 
ingston, but  they  were  subsequently  burnt  with  his  office-build'ng.  Red-Jacket 
was  again  active  and  eloquent  in  opposition  to  the  views  of  the  coinpf.ny ;  but  he 
was  out-voted  in  council,  and  compelled  to  yield  to  the  oveqiowering  numbers  of 
"  democracy, — savage  and  wild,"  literally — as  Govcrneur  Morris  once  ^^ronounced 
it  in  another  place. 


i- 


•i'll 


'I. 


i  ;l 


1:   ^'   I 


.:Mi:V 


':i  V 


i-ll 


■li 


l!i/'IJ!j 


:^'i! 


316 


LIFE  AND  TIMES,  &c. 


liiii^i 


i:;;^ 


<'■}  « 


^1:.  f 


li.t ' 


to  the  company  that  had  so  lone;  and  intently  been 
striving  to  grasp  the  prize.*  This  treaty  was  ratified  by 
the  Senate  of  the  United  States  in  IMarch,  1840 ;  but 
although  yet  unexecuted,  and  doomed,  perhaps,  to  en- 
counter opposition  in  regard  to  the  appropriations  neces- 
sary for  its  fulfilment,  still  it  requires  no  special  gift  of 
prophecy  to  foretell  that  the  remains  of  the  once  proud 
and  powerful  Senecas,  comprising  now  but  a  few  scat- 
tered and  dissolving  bands,  must  soon  turn  their  backs 
upon  the  fair  region  which  they  have  possessed  for  cen- 
turies, to  seek  out  a  new  home  toward  the  setting  nn. 
Lost  amid  the  boundless  regions  beyond  the  Mississippi, 
and  mingled  with  nations  of  their  own  race  more  nume- 
rous than  themselves,  not  many  years  will  elapse  before 
the  Senecas  will  be  numbered  as  among  the  nations  that 
were. 

*  TlK>ro  rcmninnrl  to  the  Senccns  after  the  treaty  of  1826,  at  Buffhlo  49,920 
acres,  at  Tonnewaiita  12,800,  at  Allegany  30,469,  at  Cattaraugus  21,760,  and  at 
Tuscarora  1,920, — in  all  116,869  acres,  all  of  excellent  quality.  With  the  ex- 
ception of  the  Tuscarora  reservation,  which  is  small,  oil  have  now  been  sold  by 
the  Indians.  For  an  account  of  the  provisions  of  the  last  mentioned  treaty,  and 
a  history  of  the  arts  and  management  by  which  it  was  obtained,  see  Appendix  F. 


!]■*•  I 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Witchcraft — The  case  of  Tommy-Jemmy  indicted  for  murder — Rcd-Jocket 
talies  part  in  the  trial — His  attention  to  the  government  of  Ijis  people — Mis- 
sionnry  enloqiriso  among  the  Scnecas — Red-Jacket's  opposition  and  haired 
of  Cliristianity — His  letter  to  Captain  Parish,  appealing  to  Governor  Clinton 
against  the  hlack-coats — Legislative  action,  unwittingly,  ngainst  the  mission- 
aries— Rev.  Mr.  Harris  and  his  labors — Their  success — Conversion  of  0-qui- 
ye-sou,  or  Captain  .Strong — The  schools — Mr.  Harris  driven  away  under  the 
law — Conductor  the  white  pagans — Application  to  the  legislature  in  behalf  of 
the  missionaries — Letter  of  Red-Jacket  to  Governor  Clinton — The  mission- 
aries and  teachers  sMstained — Beneficent  labors  of  the  Quakers — Remarkable 
interview  between  Red-Jacket  and  Rev.  Dr.  Breckinridge,  as  detailed  in  a  let- 
ter from  the  latter — Outlines  of  another  anti-christian  speech — His  eloquence. 

Neither  civilized  nor  savage  wars  occurring  again  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  Seneca  country  during  the  resi- 
due of  Red-Jacket's  Ute,  few  pubhc  events  with  which 
his  name  is  associated  remain  to  be  discussed.  The 
most  considerable  exception  tc  this  remark  is  to  be  found 
in  the  celebrated  case  of  Tommy-Jemmy,  a  chief  of  the 
Senecas,  who,  in  the  year  1821,  was  tried  for  murder  at 
Buffalo.  The  case  was  substantially  this  : — In  the  spring 
of  the  year  just  mentioned,  a  Seneca  Indian  fell  into  a 
state  of  languishment,  and  died.  The  character  and 
course  of  the  disease  were  such  that  the  Indian  medi- 
cine-men did  not  understand  it ;  and  from  a  variety  of 
Strange  circumstances  attending  the  sick  man's  decline 
and  death,  it  was  sagely  concluded  that  he  had  been 


"  i 


!.t'^: 


/|l»H:i:;: 


i 

:'\.\ 

(    1 

■ 

■   if 

!.  '■; 

'  t '  1 

i 

$ 

'h  '\ 

ii 

; 

1 

\ 

[ 

^a 

1      :   1 

Jli 

i  y 

\m  1 

ijji 

1 

i 

in 

318 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


\T 


li:     i      ' 


iiia 


n:!M 


W 


destroyed  by  sorcery.  Nay  more,  the  woman  who  had 
nursed  him,  and  anxiously  watched  him  at  his  bed-side, 
was  fixed  upon  as  the  beldam  whn,  by  the  aid  of  an  evil 
spirit,  had  compassed  his  death.  The  woman  fled  the 
territory  and  crossed  into  Canada,  l)ut  wns  followed 
thither  by  the  sachem^s  and  others,  arrested,  and  tried 
by  a  council,  in  due  form,  according  to  the  immemorial 
usages  of  her  people  in  such  cases  made  and  provided. 
She  was  proved  guilty,  and  sentenced  to  death.  But  the 
Indians  were  too  well  informed,  and  too  wary,  to  carry 
the  execution  into  effect  beyond  the  confines  of  their 
own  territory,  either  in  Canada  or  the  Ignited  States. 
The  poor  culprit  was  therefore  artfully  inveigled  back 
to  the  American  side  of  the  Niagara,  and  thence  within 
the  bounds  of  their  own  jurisdiction,  whore  it  was  de- 
termined she  should  meet  her  doom.  Still  the  Indian 
who  had  been  designated  as  the  executioner  fliltered  in 
his  duty.  Either  his  heart  or  his  hand  failed,  or  his  con- 
science smote  him,  and  he  declined  the  fulfilment  of  his 
bloody  commission.  In  this  emergency,  a  chief  named 
So-on-on-gise,  but  who  was  usually  called  Tommy- 
Jemmy,  seized  a  knife,  and  despatched  the  sorceress  by 
cutting  her  throat.  The  white  inhabitants  of  the  neigh- 
borhood were  shocked  at  the  deed  ;  and  I'orgetting  that, 
to  a  certain  extent  at  least,  the  Indians  constituted  an 
independent  community,  Tommy-Jemmy  was  arres- 
ted by  the  civil  authorities  of  Bullido,  and  thrown  into 
prison.  In  due  time  he  was  indicted  for  the  capital 
crime  of  murder,  and  arraigned  nt  the  bar  of  th^  oyer 
and  terminer  to  take  his  trial.  This  trial,  interesting 
in  itself,  became  in  its  prt)gress  both  curious  and  instruc- 


(■ . 


im 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


319 


live ;  and  before  the  close  of  all  the  proceedings  had  in 
connexion  therewith,  attracted  very  general  attention 
throughout  the  state,  especially  with  the  legal  profession. 
The  death  of  the  woman,  by  the  hand  of  the  accused,  of 
course  was  not  denied.     But  the  prisoner,  by  his  coun- 
sel, pleaded  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  court,  that  the 
•  Seneca  Indians  were  a  sovereign  and  independent  na- 
tion, exercising  exclusive  jurisdiction  of  all  offences  com- 
mitted by  any  of  its  members  within  their  own  territory, 
and  that  the  prisoner,  as  well  as  the  person  killed,  was 
a  member  of  the  Seneca  nation,  and  the  offence,  if  any, 
was  committed  within  their  own  territorv.     The  woman, 
it  was  held,  liad  been  judicially  executed,  according  to 
their  own  laws  and  usages,  and  it  was  therefore  insisted 
that  it  was  a  matter  of  which  the  tribunals  of  the  state  of 
New- York  could  take  no  cognizance.     To  this  plea  a 
replication  was  iiled  by  the  public  prosecutor,*  denying 
the  allegations,  and  an  issue  to  the  country  tendered. 
In  diis  ij^sue  the  prisoner  joined,  and  a  jury  was  Sivorn 
to  try  the  same.     Among  the  witnesses  introduced  to 
support  the  plea  of  the  accused  was  Red-Jacket,  who 
was  examined  at  large  touching  the  laws  and  usages  of 
his  people.     The  eminent  counsel  who  conducted  the 
prosecution  wished  to  exclude  his  testimony,  and  to  that 
end  inquired  whedier  he  believed  in  the  existence  of  a 
God.     "  More  truly  thriu  one  can  who  could   ask  me 
such  a  (piestion,"  with  an  indignant  look,  was  the  instant 
reply .t     Aflcrwanl,  on  his  cross-examination,  the  chief 

*  Tho  Hull.  John  C.  Spencer,  now,  (1041,)  Secretary  of  tho  state  of  New- 
York. 

t  Letter  to  the  author  from  the  Hon.  Albert  II.  Tracy. 


!    1     ■      ' 

■    '1 


ill) 


320 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


HI: 


■hi 


was  asked  by  one  of  the  counsel,  what  rank  he  held  in 
his  nation  :  to  which  he  answered  with  a  contemptuous 
sneer, — "  Look  at  the  papers  wliich  the  white  people 
keep  the  most  carefully," — (meaning  the  treaties  ceding 
their  lands,) — "  they  will  tell  you  what  I  am  !"* 

The  testimony  of  the  orator,  as  also  did  that  of  the 
other  Indian  witnesses,  went  to  show  that  in  the  appre- 
hension of  the  Indians  the  woman  was  clearly  a  witch, 
and  that  she  had  been  tried  by  a  properly  constituted 
council,  and  executed,  in  pursuance  of  their  laws,  which 
had  been  established  for  a  time  whereof  the  memory  of 
the  white  people,  at  least,  ran  not  to  the  contrary,  inas- 
much as  these  laws  were  in  force  long  before  the  English 
came  to  this  island.  In  the  course  of  his  examination, 
perceiving  diat  their  superstition  on  the  subject  of  witch- 
craft was  the  theme  of  ridicule,  as  well  with  the  legal 
gentlemen  as  among  the  bystanders,  Red-Jacket  found 
an  opportunity  to  break  forth  as  follows : — 


m- 


f:';, 


"  What !  Do  you  ilcnounce  \is  as  fools  and  bigots,  because  we 
still  bcliovc  that  wliidi  you  yoiirsi'lves  believed  two  centuries 
ago]  Your  black-coats  thundered  tiiis  doctrine  from  the  pul- 
pit, your  judges  pronounced  it  from  the  bench,  and  sanctioned 
it  with  the  formahties  of  law  ;  and  you  would  now  punish  our 
unfortunate  brother  for  adhering  to  the  faith  of  /lis  fathers 
and  of  yours  !  Go  to  Salem  !  Look  at  the  records  of  your 
own  government,  and  you  will  find  tiiat  hundreds  have  been 
executed  for  the  very  crime  which  has  called  forth  the  sen- 
tence of  condeumation  against  this  woman,  and  drawn  down 
upon  her  the  arm  of  vengeance.  Wiiat  have  our  brothers 
done  more  than  the  rulers  of  your  people  have  done  ?     And 

*  Drako'g  Book  of  ilie  Iiulittiis. 


V't; 


_^^_ 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


321 


your 
been 


I 


\ 


¥ 


what  crime  has  this  man  committed,  by  executing,  in  a  sum- 
mary way,  the  laws  of  his  country,  and  the  command  of  the 
Great  Spirit  ?"* 

The  appearance  of  Red-Jacket,  when  deUverlng  this 
sarcastic  philippic,  was  noted  as  remarkable,  even  for 
him.  When  fired  with  indignation,  or  burning  for  re- 
venge, the  expression  of  his  eye  was  terrible,  and  when 
he  cliose  to  display  his  powers  of  irony,  which  were 
rarely  excelled,  the  aspect  of  his  keen  sarcastic  glance 
was  irresistible. t  The  result  of  the  trial  was  a  verdict 
that  the  allegations  contained  in  the  prisoner's  plea  were 
true.  The  court  suspended  giving  judgment,  and  the 
proceedings  were  removed  by  certiorari  into  the  Su- 
preme Court.  At  the  August  term  of  that  tribunal,  in 
the  same  year,  a  motion  was  made  by  the  attorney- 
general  lor  judgment  that  the  prisoner  answer  farther, 
notwithstanding  the  verdict  of  the  jury.  The  argument 
was  opened,  in  behalf  of  the  people,  by  Mr.  Spencer, 
who  was  followed  by  Mr.  Oakley ,$  in  behalf  of  the  pri- 
soner. Mr.  Samuel  A.  Talcott,  attorney-general,  closed 
the  argument,  which  was  sustained  throughout,  on  both 
sides,  with  great  ability.  The  discussion  produced  a 
very  thorough  examination  of  all  the  laws,  treaties, 
documents,  and  public  history  relating  to  the  Indians, 
from  the  time  of  the  discovery;  and  the  court,  intima- 

•  Albany  Argus,  1021, — one  of  the  editors  of  which  paiu'i',  ut  ihut  <l:iy,  was 
prpscnt  nt  tliu  trinl. 

t  Wiiliiiin  J.  Siiulhng,  who  was  also  present  at  the  liial.  V'iih>  Driil\o's  Uouk 
of  tho  liidiuii!). 

t  Thoiniis  .1.  Oakley,  fonncrly  attorncy-gcnural,  ami  now  (1841,)  onu  of  tho 
judges  of  tho  Superior  Court  of  tlio  city  of  Now-York. 

41 


..^ 


'        Mil 


I,       '  \\ 


I 


M 


IM 


322 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


I- 


ting  that  there  was  considerable  difficulty  in  the  ques- 
tion, took  time  for  mature  consideration.  The  conclu- 
sion of  the  whole  matter  was  the  discharge  of  the  pri- 
soner by  consent.  The  court,  not  liking  to  make  a  de- 
cision recognizing  the  independent  jurisdiction  of  the 
Indians  in  such  cases,  and  yet  being  unable  to  deny  to 
them  the  existence  of  a  qualified  sovereignty, — perceiv- 
ing, moreover,  very  clearly  that  the  case  was  not  one 
of  murder,  as  the  Indians  "  understood  it," — took  the 
middle  course,  and  allowed  the  liberation  of  the  prisoner. 
After  the  close  of  the  war  between  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain,  in  1S15,  the  whole  attention  of  Red- 
Jacket  was  devoted  to  the  government  of  his  people,  and 
the  advancement  of  what  he  doubtless  honestly  conceived 
to  be  their  true  interests.  The  leading  feature  of  his  policy 
was  to  exclude  the  white  people  from  mingling  with  his 
nation,  and  to  prevent  Christian  missionaries  and  school- 
masters from  coming  amongst  them ;  in  furtherance  of 
which  design,  all  his  influence,  and  all  that  remained  of 
his  power,  were  exerted  to  the  utmost.  In  a  word,  he 
k'bored  with  all  his  energies  to  shut  out  every  thing  like 
moral  and  social  improvement,  and  to  preserve  his  peo- 
ple in  their  primitive  Indian  character.  But  his  arm 
was  too  feeble  to  check  the  advances  of  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  race,  and  the  residue  of  the  Six  Nations  at  length 
found  themselves  hemmed  closely  within  the  compara- 
tively narrow  reservations  yet  remaining  to  them.  Both 
school-masters  and  missionaries,  also,  the  objects  of  the 
chieftain's  peculiar  hate,  were  still  insinuating  themselves 
among  them ;  for  the  New- York  Missionary  Society,  no- 


}»;M 


i** 


Yti, 


.nglo- 
}ngth 
3ara- 
Both 
)f  the 
.'Ives 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


323 


thing  daunted  by  the  repulse  of  Mr.  Alexander,  in  1811, 
had  succeeded  in  establishing  several  missionary  sta- 
tions.    Indeed,  the  Tuscarora  Indians  had  received  the 
missionaries  as  early  as  the  year  180-5,  and  the  conse- 
quence had  been  a  rapid  improvement  of  their  moral 
and  social  condition.     A  missionary  house  had  likewise 
been  opened  at  the  Seneca  village,  about  five  miles  from 
Buffalo,  and  another  upon  the  Cattaraugus  reservation.* 
These  humble  efforts  in  the  cause  of  Christian  civiliza- 
tion were  crowned  with  very  considerable  success,  so 
that  previous  to  the  year  1820  the  Senecas  had  become 
divided  into  two  d'stinct  parties.  Christian  and  Pagan, 
— as   mentioned   incidentally  in  a  preceding   chapter. 
The  former  was  headed  by  the  veteran  Captain  Pollard, 
or  Ka-oun-doo-wand,  Gishkaka,  commonly  called  Little- 
Billy,  and  several  other  chiefs  of  note,  and  the  latter  by 
Red- Jacket  and  the  Young  Cornplanter,  who,  notwith- 
standing the  conversion  of  his  father  to  the  Christian  faith, 
and  his  own  education  in  Philadelpha,  adhered  still  to 
the  heathenism  of  his  ancestors.     There  were  likewise 
other  pagan  chiefs  acting  in  concert  with  Red-Jacket, 
who,  with  their  followers,  probal)ly  at  that  period  com- 
posed considerably  more  than  half  the  nation.      The 
hostility  of  this  pagan  party  to  thece  inroads  of  civiliza- 
tion was  uncompromising,  and  at  the  close  of  the  year 
1819,  or  early  in  1820,  an  appeal  was  made  to  Governor 
Chnton  for  protection  against  the  "  black-conts."     This 
appeal   was   embodied  in  a  letter,  dictated   by  Red- 
Jacket,  and  addressed  to  Mr.  Parish,  their  favorite  in- 

•  Rpporti  from  tho  missionary,  in  the  Missionary  Herald. 


'■. 


{ r\ 


»;; 


!    1. 


;  '■  :l 


i  ' 

1",  ' 

1  ■  -   ■'[  ':' 

y    1 

1           '  ( 

I  '-S 


324 


LIFE  AND  TIMLS 


"It 


m> 


:h  .i 


11 


|! 


i 


terpretcr,  then  on  a  visit  to  the  seat  of  the  state  govern- 
ment, upon  business  appertaining  to  the  Indians  : — 

RED-JACKKT  TO  CAPTAIN  PARISH. 

"  BuoTiiEU  Parish  :  I  address  niysolf  to  you,  and  through 
you  to  the  governor.  The  chiefs  of  Onondaga  have  accompa- 
nied you  to  Albany,  to  do  business  with  the  governor ;  I,  also, 
was  to  have  been  with  you,  but  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  bad 
healtli  has  put  it  out  of  my  power.  For  this  you  must  not 
tliink  hard  of  me.  I  am  not  to  blame  for  it.  It  is  the  will  of 
the  Great  Spirit  that  it  should  be  so.  The  object  of  the  Onon- 
dagas  is  to  purchase  our  lands  at  Tonnewanta.  This  and  an- 
other business  that  they  may  have  to  do  nt  Albany,  must  be 
transacted  in  the  jirescnce  of  the  governor.  He  will  sec  that 
the  bargain  is  fairly  made,  so  that  all  parties  may  have  reason 
to  be  satisfied  with  what  is  done  ;  and  when  oth"  sanction  shall 
be  wanted  to  the  transaction,  it  will  be  freely  given.  I  much 
regret  that,  at  this  time,  the  state  of  my  health  should  prevent 
me  from  accompanying  you  to  Albany,  as  it  was  the  wish  of 
the  nation  that  I  should  state  to  the  governor  some  circum- 
stances which  show  that  the  chain  of  friendship  between  us 
and  the  white  j)eople  is  wearing  out,  and  wants  brightening. 
But  I  will  proceed  now  to  lay  them  before  you  by  letter, 
that  you  may  mention  them  to  the  goA'eraor,  and  solicit 
redress.  He  is  appointed  to  do  justice  to  all,  and  the  In- 
dians fully  confide  that  he  will  not  suffer  them  to  be  wronged 
with  impunity. 

"  The  first  subject  to  which  we  would  call  the  attention  of 
the  governor,  is  the  depredations  that  are  daily  conuiiitted  by 
the  white  people  upon  the  most  valuable  timber  on  our  reser- 
vations. This  has  been  a  subject  of  complaint  with  us  for 
many  years ;  but  now,  and  particularly  at  this  season  of  the 
year,  it  has  become  an  alarming  evil,  and  calls  for  the  imme- 
diate interposition  of  the  governor  in  our  behalf  Our  next 
subject  of  comj)laint  is,  the  frequent  thefts  of  our  horses  and 
cattle  by  the  white  people  ;  and  their  habit  of  taking  and 


k 


ion  of 
a  by 
cser- 
for 
the 
iinie- 
iiext 
s  and 
and 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


825 


using  them  whenever  they  please,  and  without  our  l:?ave. 
These  ate  evils  which  seem  to  increase  upon  us  with  the  in- 
crease of  our  white  neighbors,  and  they  call  loudly  for  redress. 

"  Another  evil  arising  from  the  pressure  of  the  whites  upon 
us,  and  our  unavoidable  communication  with  them,  is  the  fre- 
quency with  which  our  chiefs,  and  warriors,  and  Indians,  are 
thrown  into  jail,  and  that,  too,  for  the  most  tilfling  causes. 
This  is  very  galling  to  our  feelings,  and  ought  not  to  be  per- 
mitted to  the  extent  to  which, — to  gratify  their  bad  passions, — 
our  white  neighbors  now  carry  this  practice. 

"  In  our  hunting  and  fishing,  too,  we  are  greatly  interrupted 
by  the  whites.  Our  venison  is  stolen  from  the  trees  where  we 
ho-  ing  it  to  be  rcclaimo  1  nftRr  the  chase.  Our  hunting 
"^amp  ,ve  been  fired  into,  i  wo  have  been  warned  that 
we  shall  no  longer  be  permitted  to  pursue  the  deer  in  those 
forests  which  were  so  lately  all  our  own.  The  fish,  which,  in 
the  Buffalo  and  Tonncwanta  creeks,  used  to  supply  uj  with 
food,  are  now,  by  the  dams  and  other  obstructions  of  the 
white  people,  prevented  from  multiplying,  and  wo  are  almost 
entirely  deprived  of  that  accustomed  suslcnance.  Our  great 
Father  tlie  President  has  recommended  to  our  young  men  to 
be  industrious, — to  plough  and  to  sow.  This  we  have  done, 
and  we  are  thankful  for  the  advice,  and  for  the  inciins  he  has 
afforded  us  of  carrying  it  into  effect.  We  are  happier  in  con- 
secpience  of  it. 

"  But  another  thino:  recommended  to  us  has  created  crreat 
confusion  among  us,  and  is  making  us  a  quarrelsome  and  divi- 
ded people  ;  and  that  is,  the  introduction  of  preachers  into  our 
nation.  I'hese  black-coats  contrive  to  get  the  consent  of  some 
of  the  Indians  to  preach  among  us,  and  wherever  this  is  the 
case,  confusion  and  disorder  are  sure  to  follow :  and  the  en- 
croachments of  the  whites  upon  our  lands  are  the  invariable 
conseepience.  The  governor  must  not  think  hard  of  me  for 
speaking  thus  of  the  preachers.  I  have  obsei-ved  thei"  pro- 
gress, and  when  I  look  back  to  sec  what  has  taken  place  of 
old,  I  perceive  that  whenever  they  came  among  the  Indians, 


y 


1     ■■! 


■*^:  i 


■,i  ■!' 


■*ii '  : 


' 

1 

•I 

■1 

' 

'..'■ 

I 

it 

■  I 

i  Ml 

''ll 

i  HMt 

41  1 

»} 

'1 

M'^ 

326 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


i': , 


I  !  1^ 


they  were  the  forerunners  of  their  lispersion;  that  they  always 
excited  enmities  and  quan-els  among  them ;  that  they  intro- 
duced the  wliito  people  on  their  lands,  by  wliom  they  were 
robbed  and  plundered  of  their  property  ;  and  that  the  Indians 
were  sure  to  dwindle  and  decrease  and  be  driven  back,  in  pro- 
portion to  the  number  of  preachers  that  came  among  them. 
Each  nation  has  its  own  customs  and  its  own  religion.  The 
Indians  liave  theirs, — given  to  them  by  the  Great  Spirit, — un- 
der which  they  weie  happy.  It  was  not  intended  that  they 
should  embrace  the  'eligion  of  the  whites,  and  bo  destroyed 
by  the  attempt  to  make  them  think  differently  on  that  subject 
from  their  fathers. 

"  It  is  true,  these  preachers  have  got  the  consent  of  some  of 
the  chiefs  to  stay  and  preach  among  us,  but  I  and  my  friends 
know  this  to  be  wrong,  and  that  they  ought  to  be  removed  ; 
besides,  we  have  been  threaterod  by  Mr.  Hyde, — who  came 
among  us  as  a  school-master  and  a  teacher  of  our  children,  but 
has  now  become  a  black-coat,  and  refused  to  teach  them  any 
more, — that  unless  we  listen  to  his  preaching  and  become 
Christians,  we  will  be  turned  off  our  lands.  We  wish  to 
know  from  the  governor  if  this  is  to  be  so ;  and  if  he  has  no 
right  to  say  so,  we  think  he  ought  to  be  turned  off  our  lands, 
and  not  allowed  to  plague  us  any  more.  We  shall  never  be 
at  peace  while  he  is  among  us.  Let  them  be  removed,  and 
we  will  be  happy  and  contented  among  ourselves.  We  now 
cry  to  the  governor  for  help,  and  hope  that  he  will  attend  to 
our  complaints,  and  speedily  give  us  redress. 

"  SA-GO-YE-WAT-HA,  or  Red-Jacket."* 


m 


m 


In  consequence  of  this  representation,  and  others  of 
corresponding  import,  an  act  was  passed  by  the  legisla- 

*  This  letter  was  dictated  by  Red-Jacket,  and  interpioted  l)y  Henry  O'Bail, 
in  the  presence  of  the  following  Indian?:  Red-.rarket's  son,  Cornplanter,  John- 
Cobb,  Peter,  Young-King's-Brother,  Tom-the-Infant,  (Onnonggaiheko,)  Blue- 
sky,  (Towyocauna,)  John-Sky,  Jemmy-Johnson,  Marcus,  Big-tire,  Captain- 
Jemmy. 


•11 


ill- 


'"# 


.'gisla- 


O'Bail, 
br,  Jchn- 
L)  Blue- 
ICaptain- 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


337 


ture  of  New- York,  during  the  session  of  1821,  for  the 
more  effectual  prevention  of  encroachments  upon  the 
lands  of  the  Senecas.  The  enactments  of  this  law  were 
peremptory, — requiring  the  district-attorney  and  sheriff 
of  the  county,  on  complaint  being  made,  to  remove  from 
the  reservation  "  all  persons  other  than  Indians."  Re- 
sistance to  the  mandate  for  such  removal  was  punishable 
by  imprisonment.  It  is  not  supposed  that  in  the  enact- 
ment of  this  law  the  legislature  intended  to  molest  the 
missionaries,  or  to  interfere  with  their  schools.  The  de- 
sign was  to  afford  more  efficient  protection  to  the  In- 
dians against  intruders  in  general,  who  were  crowding 
upon  them  in  considerable  numbers,  destrojang  their  tim- 
ber, and  endamaging  them  in  other  respects.  Against 
such  it  was  occasionally  enforced ;  but  in  regard  to  the 
missionaries  its  energies  were  allowed  to  slumber  for 
two  or  three  j-ears.  Meantime  the  New- York  Mission- 
ary Society  had  transferred  its  stations  to  the  care  of  the 
American  Board  v  Foreign  Missions,  by  which  latter 
association  the  Seneca  missions  had  been  re-organized 
upon  a  more  efficient  and  commanding  basis.  In  1S21, 
the  Rev.  Thompson  S.  Harris,  with  an  augmented  mis- 
sion family,  had  been  stationed  at  the  Seneca  village,  with 
a  commission  as  superintendent  of  the  stations  in  the 
several  cantons.  A  church  was  soon  afterward  organized, 
and  schools,  male  and  femalc,were  opened.  In  the  year 
1822,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thayer,  with  his  family  and  suitable 
teachers  for  schools,  was  stationed  at  the  Cattaraugus 
reservation.  The  labors  of  both  of  these  families, — mis- 
sionaries and  teachers, — were  gready  blessed ;  and  Red- 


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328 


1    :  E  AND  TIMES 


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11 


Jacket  and  his  pagan  u..  \ere->ts  were  doomed  to  the 
mortification  of  beholding  a  x">  .;.'  increase  of  the  Chris- 
tian party  at  the  expense  of  ti.  ,.■  own.  The  children 
were  flocking  to  the  schools,  and  the  adults  almost  daily 
renouncing  their  heathen  rites  and  superstitions,  and 
avowins;  themselves  Christians.  Amonsf  the  notables  of 
the  tribe  who  came  out  from  among  the  pagans,  was  the 
principal  chief  of  the  Cattaraugus  clan,  O-qui-ye-sou, 
well  known  in  English  as  Captain  Strong.  He  was  a 
chief  of  talent  and  great  influence  among  his  people, — 
a  sober,  deep-thinking  man,  who  for  judgment  and  pene- 
tration surpassed  most  others  of  his  nation.  His  family 
was  connected  with  that  of  Red-Jacket  by  ties  of  con- 
sanguinity, and,  with  all  the  members  of  that  family,  he 
remained  a  pagan  until  1823.  Red-Jacket  himself  had 
not  been  more  decided  in  his  opposition  to  the  mission- 
aries than  Captain  Strong,  down  to  the  period  just  men- 
tioned. But  observing  the  salutary  influences  which  the 
missionaries  and  their  schools  were  exerting  upon  his 
people,  he  was  brought  to  reflect  seriously  upon  the  sub- 
ject. His  pagan  friends  became  alaimed  at  the  symp- 
toms they  discovered  of  a  change  in  his  views,  and  a 
council  was  convened,  at  which  the  most  strenuous 
efforts  were  put  in  requisition  to  prevent  his  defection. 
But  their  efforts  were  vain.  To  the  disappointment  and 
grief  of  the  pagans,  after  they  had  exhausted  their 
stock  of  dissuasives,  O-qui-ye-sou  rose  and  in  a  manly 
speech  aljjured  his  pagan  creed,  and  avowed  himself  a 
member  of  the  Christian  party, — to  which  he  has  sted- 
fastly  adhered  until  this  day.    Alarmed  at  the  loss  of 


■itu. 


OF  RED-JACKRT. 


329 


such  a  chief  a.s  Captain  Strong,  ami  at  tlic  rapid  dimi- 
nution of  his  adherent;*,  foreshadowing  liis  own  loss  of 
inlluencc  and  power,  the  prcjject  of  a  forcible  ejectment 
of  the  missionaries  and  scliool-teachers,  under  the  act  of 
1821,  was  conceived  by  IJc^d-Jackct,  and  Iiy  the  aid  of 
several  wldtc  jjagans  in  J3iilliilo,  who  were  ever  on  the 
f/ut  rli-c  to  facilitate  his  anti-christian  purposes,  carried 
into  prompt  execution.     (Complaints  having  Ijeen  duly 
entered  against   Mr.    Harris   and   his   teaciiers   at   the 
Seneca  village,  the  district-attorney  and  sheriii;  having 
no  discretion  in  the  preiiiis(,'s,  were  compelled  to  pro- 
ceed against  them,  and  the  mission  at  the  Seneca  \il!agc 
was  broken  up  in  J^hlrch,  ib'Ji.     Tliere  were  l()rty-threc 
children  in  the  school  at  the  time,  who,  with  their  teach- 
ers and  assistants,  were  removed  to  the  Cattaraugus 
station.     I\lr.  Harris  and  his  family  retired  to  Butialo, 
to  watch  the  courst3  of  (.n-ents,  and  render  such  offices 
to  the  Indians  ot   his  spiri'ual  charge  as  might  yet  Ije  in 
his  powci.     This  was  a  sad  disappointment  to  the  mis- 
sion-family, and  was  deeply  lamented  l)y  the  Christian 
Indians,  upon  whom  the  happiest  inlluences  had  been 
exerted.     A  lively  concern  had  been  awakened  in  their 
bosoms  for  the  salvation  of  their  souls,  and  they  were  in 
the  habit  <jf  resorting  to  the  woods  for  their  private  de- 
votions.    They  theret()re  felt  deeply  die  loss  of  their 
minister,  to  whom  they  owed  so  much,  not  only  t()r  his 
instructions  in  religion,  l)ut  for  his  labors  in  the  improve- 
ment of  their  social  condition.     The  American  Board 
had  no  sooner  heard  of  these  transactions,  than  an  ap- 
peal was  made  to  the  legislature  for  such  a  moditication 

42 


I;  I 


1  [i 


i;  I   ^ 


I: 

i 


■i  1'.   ' 


'M 


i 

■  ■  i 

'      1  r      ■       'l-.l 

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1    l.^ 

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■if    :!:> 

I'.J , 


1 4\ 
ni: 


4 


330  LIFE  AND  TIMES 

of  the  law  of  1821  as  would  allow  the  missionaries  to 
resume  their  labors.  The  people  of  Buffalo,  also,  with 
the  exception  of  a  small  knot  of  unbelievers  in  alliance 
upon  this  subject  with  Red-Jacket,  sustained  the  appli- 
cation. Judge  Wilkinson,  then  a  senator  from  Buffalo, 
mrde  a  strong  speech  in  favor  of  the  proposed  modifica- 
tion of  the  law,  and  bore  powerful  testimony  to  the  advan- 
tages that  had  resulted  to  the  Indians  from  the  labors  of 
the  missionaries.  In  this  posture  of  affairs,  while  the 
question  was  yet  pending,  Red-Jacket  addressed  the 
following  letter  to  Governor  Clinton : — 

"  TO  THE  CHIEF  OF  THE  COUNCIL  FIRE  AT  ALBANY. 

"  Brother  :  About  three  years  ago,  our  friends  of  the  great 
council  fire  at  Albany  wrote  down  in  their  book  that  the  priests 
of  white  people  should  no  longer  reside  on  our  lands,  and  told 
their  officers  to  move  them  off  whenever  we  complained.  This 
was  to  us  good  news,  and  made  our  hearts  glad.  These  priests 
had  a  long  time  troubled  us,  and  made  us  bad  friends  and  bad 
neighbors.  After  much  difficulty  we  removed  them  from  our 
lands;  and  for  a  short  time  we  have  been  quiet,  and  our  minds 
easy.  But  we  are  now  told  that  the  priests  have  asked  liberty 
to  return  ;  and  that  our  friends  of  the  great  council  fire  are 
about  to  blot  from  their  book  the  law  which  they  made,  and 
leave  their  poor  red  brethren  once  more  a  prey  to  hungry 
priests. 

"  Brother  :  Listen  to  what  we  say.  These  men  do  us  no 
good.  They  deceive  every  body.  They  deny  the  Great  Spi- 
rit, which  we,  and  our  fathers  before  us,  have  looked  upon  as 
our  creator.  They  disturb  us  in  our  worship.  They  tell  our 
children*  they  must  not  believe  like  our  fathers  and  mothers, 
and  tell  us  many  things  we  do  not  understand  and  cannot  be- 
lieve.    They  tell  us  we  must  be  like  white  people, — but  they 

*  Several  of  Red-Jacket's  children  had  joined  the  Christian  party. 


i"4u^ 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


331 


are  lazy  and  won't  work,  nor  do  they  teach  our  young  men  to 
do  so.  The  habits  of  our  women  are  worse  than  tliey  were 
before  these  men  came  amongst  us,  and  our  young  men  drink 
more  whiskey.  We  are  willing  to  be  taught  to  read,  and 
write,  and  work,  but  not  by  people  who  have  done  us  so  much 
injury. 

"  Brother  :  We  wish  you  to  lay  before  the  council  fire  the 
wishes  of  your  red  brethren.  We  ask  our  brotliers  not  to  blot 
out  the  law  which  has  made  us  peaceable  and  happy ;  and  not 
to  force  a  strange  religion  upon  us.  We  ask  to  be  let  alone, 
and,  like  the  white  people,  to  worship  the  Great  Spirit  as  we 
think  best.  We  shall  then  be  happy  in  fulfilling  the  little 
share  in  life  which  is  left  us,  and  shall  go  down  to  our  fathers 
in  peace. 

"  SA-GO-YE-WAT-HA."* 


1. 


arty. 


In  one  of  the  parables  of  the  Great  Aivchor  of  Chris- 
tianit}^  it  is  said  that  on  a  certain  occasion,  when  a  hus- 
bandman had  been  scattering  good  st.L.d  in  h'..  field, 
"  an  enemy"  came  afterward  and  sowed  tare-  it  was 
even  so  at  the  village  of  the  Seneca  ■=-  There  were  r> 
few  individual  white  men  in  the  vicinUy  c  f  the  reserva- 
tion, unbelievers  in  the  Christian  religion, — of  whose 
number  was  a  man  of  some  political  notoriety  in  Buf- 
falo,— who  labored  with  a  zeal  worthy  of  a  better  cause, 
to  thwart  the  efforts  of  the  missionary  and  teachers  at 
the  Seneca  village.  By  these  men  the  prejudices  of 
Red-Jacket  and  his  pagan  adherents  were  fomented, 
and  their  hands  strengthened.     No  man  labored  with 

*  The  original  of  this  document  is  'i>  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  at 
Albany.  It  was  subscribed  with  tLiinp.U  of  Sa-go-ye-wat-ha,  or  Red- Jacket, 
first,  and  thun  follow  those  of  the  Young  (;ornplanter,  Grcun-Blanket,  Big-Kettle, 
Robert  Bob,  Twenty  Canoes,  senior  and  junior,  Two-Guns,  Fish-Hook,  Hot- 
Bread,  Bare-Foot,  and  several  oir-ors  of  tho  pagan  party. 


f  i! 


■It*-* 
ii   ti 


332 


LIFE  AND  TI.MKS 


-1^ 


Uh 


greater  industry  in  sowing  tlic  good  seed  thnn  Mr.  Har- 
ris. None  could  have  lalxtrcd  with  greater  assiduity  in 
sowing  tares  in  the  same  field  than  the  persons  referred 
to.  And  these  men  were  doubtless  ihe  counsellors  of 
Red-Jacket,  as  they  had  l)eenon  other  similar  occasions, 
in  the  composition  of  the  foregoing  letter  to  Governor 
Clinton,  it  was  a  grievous  lilx'l  upon  iIk;  character  an<l 
conduct  of  the  missionaries,  iiud  prolcihly  was  not  with- 
out its  inlluence  for  temporary  evil,  ina^nuich  as  the  ap- 
plication in  their  behalf  was  not  at  tliat  time  sustained 
by  the  legislature.  But  at  ;i,  pcn'iod  not  long  subseipient, 
the  rigors  of  the  law  wen*  mt'lioralcd,  and  both  mission- 
aries and  teachers  were  allitwed  to  resume  and  con- 
tinue their  labcjrs  without  farther  niolestaiion. 

Tiiere  is  indeed,  in  one  passage  of  the  letter  under 
consideration,  an  appan^it  (jualification  of  the  old  chief- 
tain's hostility  to  the  introduction  of  the  iirts  ol"  reading 
and  writing  among  the  Indians;  but  he  was  n(;vertheless 
averse  to  the  ac([uisition  of  tho-:e  accom[)lishmcnts  from 
Mr.  Harris  and  his  assistants.  I>ut  tow;inl  the  (Quakers, 
who  had  exercised  a  watchful  guardianship  over  the 
AUeghauN'  clan  of  the  r?enecas,  by  mean.'-  of  boiirds  of 
visiters  and  n^sident  agents,  almost  Irom  the  hour  of 
their  laying  down  the  hatchet  in  17^:1,  Jfcd-.Tacket  was 
much  better  disposed.  He  made  an  earnest  appeal  to 
them,  at  about  the  same  time,  for  assistance,  or  for  the 
exertion  of  their  inlluence  in  keeping  the  missionaries  at 
a  distance,  fii  his  conununlcalions  with  the  Quakers 
upon  this  subji'ct,  he  was  more  grievously  libellous 
against  the  missionaries  even  than  in  the  letter  to  Go- 


'•H^M- 


't^ 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


333 


reading 


vcrnor  Clinton,  charging  them  with  stcaUng  the  horses  of 
the  Indians,  driving  tiway  their  cattle,  and  with  other 
grave  offences.  Charges  hkc  these,  against  men  holding 
the  commissions  of  the  American  Board  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions, stntioned,  as  it  were,  under  the  very  eye  of  the 
Board  it?elt",  carried  their  own  contradiction  upon  their 
face.  Slid  it  niay  \h',  possible, — barely  poj^sible, — th.at 
miscreants  may  have  assumed  the  mifisionary  garb  in 
order  to  accom])li^^h  some  sinister  purpose;  against  this 
much-al)used  nice.  And  when  the  orator  told  the  (Qua- 
kers, as  it  is  alleged  he  did  by  at  least  one  authority, 
that  such  of  tin;  iSenecas  as  were  nominally  converted 
from  heathenism  to  (Christianity  by  those;  pretended 
teachers,  only  disgraced  tlicmselves  i)y  paltry  attempts 
to  cover  the  prolliiracy  of  the  one  uidi  the  hypocrisy  of 
the  other,*  he  must  either  have  adverted  to  some  isolated 
instance  of  imposture  and  allL-cted  conversion,  or  coined 
the  libel  with  m.'dign;int  inl<Mit. 

But  his  h(»slility  to  ('hristianity  and  its  teachers  was 
implacable,  and  broke  forth  on  every  possible  occasion. 
About  the  year  1924,  a.  gentleman  who  had  much  oHicial 
and  personal  intercourse  with  the  Senecas,  and  with 
Red-Jacket  in  pnrticular,  whih;  in  f;onversation  vviUi  him 
in  company  with  the  Lite  ('olonel  Ciwipin,  asked  the 
(luestion  why  ho  was  so  nuich  opposed  to  the  mission- 
aries. The;  iuijuiry  awakened  fecilings  of  re;d  or  aHJ-etcd 
surprise  in  the  bosom  of  tlie  chief,  and  after  a  Itriof 
pause  as  though  for  reflection,  he  replied  with  a  sarcastic 
smile,  and  an  emphasis  peculiar  to  himself: — 


;  ■  i' 


'■  .   '  I. 


\it 


Tliutclior'H  ludiuii  Uiu^iupliy. 


i  : 


'I  I 


m 


'  !:i,,!'i 


334 


LIFE  AND  TLMES 


"  Because  they  do  us  no  good.     If  they  are  not  useful  to 
the  white  people,  why  do  they  send  them  among  the  Indians  1 
If  they  are  useful  to  the  white  ])eople,  and  do  them  good,  why 
do  they  not  keep  them  at  home  1    They  are  surely  bad  enough 
to  need  the  labor  of  every  one  who  can  make  them  better. 
These  men  know  wc  do  not  understand  their  reh.  -^n.     We 
cannot  read  their  book, — they  tell  us  dirt'orent  stories  about 
what  it  contains,  and  we  believe  they  make  the  book  talk  to 
suit  themselves.     If  we  had  no  money,  no  land,  and  no  coun- 
try to  be  cheated  ont  of,  these  black-coats  would  not  trouble 
themselves  about  i.ur  good  hereafter.     The  Great  Spirit  will 
not  punish  us  for  what  we  do  not  know.     Ho  will  do  justice  to 
his  red  children.     These  black-coats  talk  to  the  Great  Spirit, 
and  ask  for  light,  that  we  may  see  as  they  d(j,  when  they  are 
blind  themselves,  and  quarrel  about  the  light  which  guides 
them.     These  things  we  do  not  understand,  and  the  light  they 
give  us  makes  the  straight  and  plain  path  trod  by  our  fathers 
dark  and  dreary.     The  black-coats  tell  us  to  work  and  raise 
corn  :  they  do  iiothing  themselves,  and  woidd  starve  to  death 
if  somebody  did  not  ll;od  them.     All  they  do  is  to  pray  to  the 
Great  Spirit ;  but  that  will  not  make  corn  or  potatoes  grow; 
if  it  will  why  do  they  beg  from  us  and  from  the  white  i)eo2)le] 
The  red  men  knew  nothing  of  trouble  until  it  came  from  the 
white  moil ;  as  soon  as  they  crossed  the  great  waters  they 
wanted  our  country,  and  in  return  have  always  been  ready  to 
teach  us   to   quarrel  about  their  rciligion.     Red-Jacket  can 
never  bo  the  friend  of  such  men.     Tlu;  Indians  can  never  bo 
civilized, — they  are  not  like  white  men.     [f  lliey  were  raised 
among  the  white  people,  and  learned  to  work,  and  to  read,  as 
they  do,  it  would  only  make  their  situations  worse.     Tliey 
would  be  treated  no  better  than  negroes.     We  are  few  and 
weak,  but  may  for  a   long  time  be  hajipy  if  we  hold  fast  to 
our  country  and  the  religion  of  our  fathers  !"• 


•  Culoncl  M'Kcnncy'    iiiUiaii  Biugrnpliy. 


■I>, 


cady  to 

kot  can 

cv(M   be 

raised 

cuil.  as 

'I'lH-y 

\v  and 

Ikbl  to 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


335 


It  need  scarcely  be  added  that  this  outpouring  of  in- 
vective against  the  missionaries  was  no  more  bitter  than 
unjust;  and  were  it  not  for  the  close  resemblance  it 
bears  to  the  preceding  letter  to  Governor  Clinton,  it 
would  be  charitable  to  hope  that  the  reporter  imparted 
to  the  language  of  the  speaker  a  tone  of  severity  beyond 
his  design.  No  doubt  can  exist  that  his  feelings  of  hatred 
to  Christianity  were  at  that  time  settled  and  deep  ;  but, 
as  has  been  previously  intimated,  there  were  white  pa- 
gans in  the  Seneca  neighborhood,  who,  with  a  vigilance 
that  never  slumbered,  were  watching  lor  opportunities 
to  infuse  into  the  bosom  of  Red-Jacket  a  portion  of  the 
poison  rankling  in  their  own.  Such  may  have  been  the 
fact  in  regard  b(jtli  to  the  last  mentioned  speech  and  the 
letter.  Perhaps,  therefore,  a  more  just  conception  of  the 
old  chicltain's  general  views  upon  this  importnnt  sub- 
ject,— his  manner  of  reasoning  respecting  it, — and  the 
position  in  which  hc>  supposed  the  Indians  stood  in  regard 
to  it, — may  be  formed  by  a  perusal  of  tlie  notes  of  a  pro- 
tracted colloquy  l)ctwecn  him  and  ti  j'oung  candidate  for 
clerical  orders, — now  an  eminent  divine,* — wliich  occur- 
red at  al)out  the  period  of  his  lite  now  under  consideration. 
These  notes,  or  more  properly  sketclics,  in  addition  to 
their  dramatic  interest,  will  serve  as  vivid  illustrations 
of  the  manners  t)f  the  orator  in  his  old  age,  and  the  cha- 
racter of  his  mind ; — while  the  missionaries  are  at  the 
same  time  vindicated. 

♦  Tlio  Uev.  John  Bicckenridgo,  D.  I). 


I 
'i 

i  ■** 
'i    ; 


i   ,  I  : 


I.  ! 


f  'Ml 


f    ''§ 


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i 


Wi< 


k 


M.i« 


ii 


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11 

11 

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ft' ' 

HI 

II 

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B9 

■yl 

T'  ' 

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t,„ 

■B  Bl 

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H 1^ 

}!• 

HI 

m 

^i 

33G 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


REV.  DR.  BRECKENRIDGE  TO  THE  AUTHOR. 

"  The  first  opportunity  I  ever  enjoyed  ot"  seeing  tliat 
dcscrvccllycelcbnited  Indian  cliiel'Kod-Jacket.was  in  the 
year  1S21,  at  the  residence  of  (jent^-d  I'utkr  B.  Porter, 
Black  Rock,  New-Yf)rk.  Beinp'  on  a  visit  to  the  General 
and  his  lUmihs  it  seemed  a  pecuharly  fit  dccasion  to  be- 
come acquainted  with  the  groat  »Seneca  orator,  wliosc 
tribe  resided  within  a  few  miles  of  Bhick  Uock.  Gene- 
ral Porter  embraced  the  Indian  warriors  who  fought 
with  us  on  that  line,  during  the  Jatc  w  ir  with  (Jreat 
Britain,  in  his  command.  From  this  cause ;  from  his 
high  character;  his  intimate  accjuairtance  widi  tlic 
chiefs  ;  and  his  known  attachment  to  these  interesting 
people,  he  had  great  influence  over  them  ; — and  his  la- 
mented lady,  wiio  it  is  not  indelicate  for  me  to  say 
was  my  sister,  had  by  her  kindness  won  the  rugged 
hearts  of  all  their  leadintr  men.  So  that  their  imited  in- 
fluence, and  my  near  relationsiiip  to  them,  secured  to 
me  at  once  access  to  the  chiefs,  and  their  entire  confi- 
dence. 

"  r  had  not  only  a  great  desire  to  sec  Red-.Tacket,  but 
also  to  use  this  important  ()j)portunity  to  correct  some 
of  his  false  impressions  in  regard  to  Christianity  and 
the  missionaries  established  in  his  tribe.  To  this  end  it 
was  agreed  to  invite  Red-Jacket  and  the  other  chiefs  of 
the  Senecas,  to  visit  Co-na.-siius-lah,*  and  meet  his 
brother  at  his  house.  Tlie  invitation  was  acconhngly 
given,  and  very  prom})tly  and  respectfully  accepted. 

"On  liie  appointed  day  they  made  their  appearance 

♦  Tlif  name  given  to  Ociiiral  Poriti  In  Rril-Jnokut. 


"<*MBi«H 


foui'bt 


;ef,  but 
some 

V  and 

■11(1  it 

Is  of 

■I;  his 

iiiirly 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


337 


in  due  form,  headed  by  Red-Jacket,  to  the  number  of 
perhaps  eight  or  ten,  besides  himself.  lied-Jacket  was 
dressed  with  much  taste,  in  the  Indian  costume  through- 
out. He  wore  a  blue  dress,  the  upper  garment  cut  after 
the  fashion  of  a  hunting-shirt,  with  blue  leggings,  very 
neat  moccasins,  a  red  jacket,  and  a  girdle  of  red  about 
his  waist.  I  have  seldom  seen  a  more  dignified  or 
noble  looking  body  of  men  than  the  entire  group.  It 
seems, — though  no  such  impression  was  designed  to  be 
made  by  the  terms  of  the  invitation, — that  some  indefi- 
nite expectation  had  been  excited  in  their  minds  of 
meeting  an  olHcial  agent  on  important  business.  And 
they  have  been  so  unworthily  tampered  with,  and  so 
badly  treated  by  us,  as  a  people,  and  many  of  their 
most  important  treaties  have  been  so  much  the  result  of 
private  and  corrupting  appeals,  that  they  very  naturally 
look  for  some  evil  design  in  every  approach  to  them, — 
however  open  and  simple  it  may  be.  So  it  was  on  this 
occasion.  As  soon  as  the  ceremonies  of  introduction 
had  passed,  with  the  civilities  growing  out  of  il,  the  old 
orator  seated  himself  in  the  midst  of  the  circle  of  chiefs, 
and  after  n.  word  with  them,  followed  by  ii  general 
assent,  he  proceeded  in  a  very  serious  and  commanding 
manner, — always  speaking  in  his  own  nervous  tongue, 
through  iin  interpreter,  to  address  me  in  subst;ince  as 
follow  s  : — 

"  '  Wo  have  luul  a  call  from  our  good  friends,'  (pointing  to 
the  general  and  liis  lady,)  '  to  come  down  to  IWack  Hock  to 
meet  llieir  brother.  We  are  glad  to  break  bread  and  to  drink 
the  cuj)  ol  friendship  with  them.     They  arc  gieal  iViends  to 

43 


m 

p, 

t 

;  l' 

i 

i 

n 

;. 

; 

r,.1 

i 
i 

1          -■• 

li  ■ 

;,  I 
f  1 

:i  ■ 

!    i 

'r' 


IW 


•  I  ■ 

■  M 


r  >  •  I 


I'   i' 


■\r.U^ 


[Jil 


^11 


u , 


n  i!' 


m 


m0 


338 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


our  people,  and  we  love  them  much.  Co-tia-shus-tah  is  a 
great  man.  His  woman  has  none  like  her.  We  often  come 
to  their  house.  We  thank  them  for  telling  us  to  come  to-day. 
But  as  all  the  chiefs  were  asked  we  expected  some  important 
talk.     Now,  here  we  are  : — What  is  your  business  V  " 

"  This,  as  may  be  readily  supposed,  was  an  embar- 
rassing position  to  a  young  man  just  out  of  college.  I 
paused.  Every  countenance  was  fixed  upon  me,  while 
Red-Jacket  in  particular  seemed  to  search  me  with  his 
arrowy  eye,  and  to  feel  that  the  private  and  informal 
nature  of  the  meeting,  and  the  extreme  j'outh  of  the 
man,  were  luirdly  in  keeping  with  the  character  and 
number  of  the  guests  invited  ; — and  his  whole  manner 
implied,  '  that  but  for  the  sake  of  the  general  and  his 
good  viands,  I  should  have  wailed  for  you  to  come  to 
us.'  With  these  impressions  of  his  feelings,  I  proceeded 
to  say  in  reply  : — 

"  '  That  I  should  have  thought  it  very  presumptuous  in  me 
to  send  for  him  alone, — and  still  more  for  all  the  chiefs  of  his 
tribe, — to  come  so  far  to  see  me ; — that  my  intention  had  been 
to  visit  him  and  the  (Jther  chiefs  at  liis  town ; — but  the  gene- 
ral and  his  huly  could  not  go  with  mc  to  iutioduco  me. 
Nor  were  we  at  all  certain  tiiat  we  should  find  him  and  the 
other  chiefs  at  home  ;  and  at  any  rate  the  general's  house  was 
more  convenient.  He  intended,  when  he  asked  them,  to  keep 
them  as  long  us  they  could  slay,  and  to  invite  them  to  break 
his  bread,  and  drink  his  cup,  and  smoke  his  pipe ; — that 
his  woman,  and  he  as  well  as  I,  desired  to  see  them  at  their 
house  ; — that  as  to  myself,  I  was  a  young  man,  and  had  no 
business  with  them,  except  that  I  had  heard  a  great  dual  of 
Red-Jacket,  and  wished  to  see  him  and  hear  him  talk  ; — and 
also  that  1  had  some  things  to  say  to  him  when  we  were  better 


\m 


'  J  m 


of  his 

ad  been 

lo  gene- 

co   me. 

and  the 

use  was 

to  keep 

break 

; — that 

at  their 

lad  no 

deal  of 

; — and 

better 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


339 


acquainted,  which,  though  not  husiness,  were  important  to  his 
people ; — and  I  thought  it  would  be  interesting  to  him,  as  I 
knew  he  loved  his  people  much ; — and  finally  that  T  would  re- 
turn his  visit,  and  show  him  that  it  was  not  out  of  disrespect, 
but  out  of  great  regard  for  him,  and  great  desire  to  see  hira, 
that  we  had  sent  for  him, — this  being  the  way  that  white  men 
honor  one  another.' 

"  Mrs.  Porter  immediately  confirmed  what  I  had  said, 
and  gave  special  point  to  the  hospitaliti/  of  the  house, 
and  the  great  desire  I  had  to  see  Red-Jacket.  Her  ap- 
peal, added  to  the  reply,  relaxed  the  rigor  of  his  man- 
ner and  that  of  the  other  chiefs,  while  it  relieved  our  in- 
terview of  all  painful  feelings. 

"  After  this  general  letting  down  of  the  scene,  Red- 
Jacket  turned  to  me  familiarly  and  asked  : — '  What  are 
you  ?  You  say  you  are  not  a  government  agent, — are 
you  a  gambler  .''*  or  a  black-coat .''  or  what  are  you  V 
I  answered  :  '  I  am  yet  too  young  a  man  to  engage  in 
any  profession ;  but  I  hope  some  of  these  days  to 
be  a  black-coat.'  He  lifted  up  his  hands  accompa- 
nied by  his  eyes,  in  a  most  expressive  way,  and  though 
not  a  word  was  uttered,  every  one  fully  understood  that 
he  very  distinctly  expressed  the  sentiment, — '  What  a 
fool !'  I  had  too  often  been  called  to  bear  Irom  those 
reputed  '  great  and  wise'  among  while  men,  the  shame 
ot"  the  cross,  to  be  surprised  by  his  manner ;  and  I  was 
too  anxious  to  conciliate  his  good  feelings  to  attempt 

•  By  tho  term  "gambler,"  Red-Jacket  mentit  ii  land  speculator,  and  by  the 
way  not  a  bad  definition, — especially  of  those  base  men  who  have  so  long  con- 
Bpired  to  cheat  the  poor  Indians  out  of  their    ittic  remaining  lands. 


i ,: 


I'    ;i' 


'     B 


1'"  I 

i 


I 


it' 


m 


If' 


340 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


any  retort, — so  that  I  commanded  my  countenance,  and 
seeming  not  to  have  observed  him,  I  proceeded  to  tell 
him  something  of  our  colleges,  &c.,  &c.  That  gradu- 
ally led  his  mind  away  from  the  ideas  with  which  it  was 
filled  and  excited  when  he  arrived. 

"  A  good  deal  of  general  conversation  ensued, — ad- 
dressed to  one  and  another  of  the  chiefs, — and  we  were 
just  arriving  at  the  hour  of  dinner,  when  our  conference 
was  suddenly  broken  up  by  llie'  arrival  of  a  breathless 
messenger,  saying  that  an  old  chief,  whose  name  I  for- 
get, had  just  died,  and  the  other  chiefs  were  immediate- 
ly needed,  to  attend  his  burial.  One  of  the  chiefs  shed 
tears  at  the  news; — all  seemed  serious;  l)ut  the  others 
suppressed  their  fee  ^s  and  spent  a  few  moments  in 
a  very  earnest  conversation,  the  result  of  which  Red- 
Jacket  announced  to  us.  They  had  determined  to  re- 
turn at  once  to  their  village ;  but  consented  to  leave 
Red-Jacket  and  his  interpreter.  In  vain  were  they 
urged  to  wait  until  after  dinner,  or  to  refresh  themselves 
with  sometiiing  eaten  by  the  way.  With  hurried  fare- 
well and  quick  slops  they  left  the  house,  and  by  the 
nearest  foot-path  returned  home. 

"  This  occurrence  relieved  me  of  one  difficulty.  It 
enabled  me  to  see  Red-Jacket  at  leisure,  and  alone.  It 
seemed  also  to  soften  his  feelings,  and  make  him  more 
afiable  and  kind. 

"  Soon  after  the  departure  of  the  chiefs,  we  were 
ushered  to  diimer.  Red-Jacket  behaved  with  great 
propriety,  in  all  respects ;  his  interpreter,  Major  Berry, 
though  half  a  white  man  and  perhaps  a  chief,  like  a  true 


were 

great 

Berry, 

a  true 


OF  RED-JACKET, 


341 


savage.  After  a  few  awkward  attempts  at  the  knife 
and  fork,  he  found  himself  falUng  behind,  and  repeating 
the  old  adage  which  is  often  quoted  to  cover  the  same 
style  among  our  white  urchins  of  picking  a  chicken- 
bone,  '  that  fingers  were  made  be/ore  knives  and/orks,^  he  pro- 
ceeded with  real  gusto,  and  much  good  humor,  to  make 
up  his  lost  time  upon  all  parts  of  the  dinner.  It  being 
over,  I  invited  Red-Jacket  into  the  general's  office, 
where  we  had  for  four  hours  a  most  interesting  conver- 
sation on  a  variety  of  topics,  but  chiefly  connected  with 
Christianity  ;  the  government  of  the  United  Slates ;  the 
missionaries  ;  and  his  loved  lands. 

"  So  great  a  length  of  time  has  passed  since  ^hat  in- 
terview that  there  must  be  supposed  to  be  a  failure  in 
the  attempt  perfectly  to  report  what  was  said.  I  am 
well  assured  I  cannot  do  justice  to  his  language,  even  as 
diluted  by  the  ignorant  interpreter  ;  and  his  manner  can- 
not be  described.  But  it  was  so  impressive  a  conversa- 
tion, and  I  have  so  often  been  called  on  to  repeat  it,  that 
the  substance  of  his  remarks  has  been  faithfully  retained 
by  my  memory.  It  is  only  attempted  here  to  recite  a 
small  part  of  what  was  then  said,  and  that  with  parti- 
cular reference  to  the  illustration  of  his  character,  mind 
and  opinions. 

"  It  has  already  been  mentioned  and  is  largely  known, 
that  Red-Jacket  cherished  the  most  violent  antipathy 
toward  the  American  missionaries  who  had  been  located 
among  his  people.  This  led  to  very  strenuous  resistance 
of  their  influence,  and  to  hatred  of  their  religion,  but  of 
the  true  character  of  which  he  was  totally  ignorant.     His 


I  ■ 


Ml, 

'  ii'i 


I  ■  i' 


i'l:  ^' 


:  i. -^i  1 


)      1 

f 

V 

!■ 
(      1 

'K 

!'[ 

M- 

■   *  ; 

'i| 

t 

|i' 

■  ,1 

, 

i' 

■'  f 

1 ; 

'  f 

I 

i' 

m 


842 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


P'jij 


mt 


1  y 


1 

mi 

Pf 

deep  attachment  to  his  people,  and  his  great  principle 
that  their  national  glory  and  even  existence  depended 
upon  keeping  themselves  distinct  from  white  men,  lay 
at  the  foundation  of  his  aversion  to  Christianity.  Though 
a  pagan,  yet  his  opposition  was  political,  and  he  cared 
very  little  for  any  religion  except  so  far  as  it  beemed  to 
advance  or  endanger  the  glory  and  safety  of  the  tribe. 

"  He  hrid  unfortunately  been  led  by  designing  and 
corrupt  white  men,  who  were  i7itcrcstcd  in  tlie  result, 
falsely  to  associate  the  labors  of  the  missionaries  with 
designs  against  his  nation ;  and  those  who  wished  the 
Senecas  removed  Irom  their  lands  that  they  might  profit 
by  the  purchase, — and  who  saw  in  the  success  of  the 
mission  the  chief  danger  to  their  plans,  artfully  enlisted 
the  pagan  part}'';  <^^  which  Red-Jacket  was  the  leader, 
to  oppose  the  missionaries, — and  thus  effectually  led  to 
the  final  frustration  of  Red-Jacket's  policy, — in  and  by 
the  defeat  of  the  missionary  enterprise.  But  as  this 
question  is  discussed  in  the  sequel,  I  will  not  anticipate. 
Thus  much  it  was  necessary  to  premise,  in  order  to  ex- 
plain the  nature  and  ends  of  my  interview  with  Red- 
Jacket.  My  object  was  to  explain  the  true  state  of  the 
case  to  him,  and  after  this  to  recommend  the  doctrine  of 
Christ  to  his  understanding  and  heart.  IMy  first  step, 
therefore,  was  to  ask  him  why  he  so  strongly  opposed 
the  settlement  and  labors  of  the  missionaries?  He  re- 
plied, because  they  are  the  enemies  of  the  Indians,  and 
under  the  cloalc  of  doing  them  good  arc  trying  to  cheat 
them  out  of  their  lands.  I  asked  him  what  proof  he  had 
of  this.     He  said  lie  had  been  told  so  by  some  of  his 


had 

I  of  his 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


343 


wise  and  good  friends  among  the  white  men,  and  he  ob- 
served that  the  missionaries  were  constantly  wanting 
more  land, — and  that  by  little  and  little,  for  themselves, 
or  those  who  hired  them  to  do  it,  they  would  take  away 
all  their  lands,  and  drive  them  off. 

"  I  asked  him  if  lie  knew  that  there  was  a  body  of 
white  men  who  had  already  bought  the  exclusive  right 
to  buy  their  lands  from  the  government  of  New- York, 
and  that  therefore  the  missionaries  could  not  hold  the 
lands    given  or  sold    them  by  the  Indians  a  moment 
after  the  latter  left  the  Imds  and  went  away.      He 
seemed  to  be  startled  by  the  statement,  but  said  nothing. 
I  proceeded  to  tell  him  that  the  true  effect  of  the  mis- 
sionary influence  on  the  tribe  was  to  secure  to  them  the 
possession  of  their  lands,  by  civilizing  them  and  making 
them  quit  the  chase  for  the  cultivation  oi  the  soil,  build- 
ing good  houses,  educating  their  children,  and  making 
them   permanent  citizens  and  good  men.      This  was 
what  the    speculators   did   not  wish.     Therefore  they 
hated   the   missionaries.      He   acknowledged   that  the 
Christian  party  among  the  Indians  did  as  I  said ;  but 
that  wns  not  the  way  for  an  Indian  to  do.     Hunting, 
war  and  manly  pursuits,  were  best  fitted  to  them.     But, 
said  I,  your  reservation  of  land  is  too  little  for  that  pur- 
pose.    It  is  surrounded  by  the  white  people  like  a  small 
island   by  the   sea;   the  deer,   the   buffalo   and    bear, 
have  all  gone.     This  wont  do.     If  you  intend  to  live  so 
much  longer,  you   \vill  have  to  go  to  the  great  western 
wilderness  where  there  is  plenty  of  game,  and  no  white 
men  to  trouble  you.     But  he  said,  we  wish  to  keep  our 


^^1 


;-»i;. 


:      •      1 

i  ; 

!      ' 

'  1';  ' 

^i 

1  1' ' 

; 

:l  '.' 


d4 
"■lid 


II 


344 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


lands,  and  to  be  buried  by  our  fathers.  I  know  it, — and 
therefore  I  say  that  the  mis:-^onaries  are  your  best 
friends  ;  for  if  you  follow  tho  ^ -a^ra  they  tearh  you  can 
still  hold  your  lands, — though  .u  cannot  have  hunting 
grounds  ;  and  therefore  you  must  either  do  like  white 
men,  or  remove  from  your  lands, — very  soon.  Your 
plan  of  keeping  the  Indians  distinct  from  the  white  peo- 
ple is  begun  too  late.  If  you  would  do  it  and  have 
large  grounds,  and  would  let  the  missionaries  teach  you 
Christianity  far  from  the  bad  habits  and  big  farms  of 
the  white  people,  it  would  then  be  well :  it  would  keep 
your  people  from  being  corrupted  and  swallowed  up  by 
our  people  who  grow  so  fast  around  you,  and  many  of 
whom  are  very  bad.  But  it  is  too  late  to  do  it  here,  and 
you  must  choose  between  keeping  the  missionaries  and 
being  like  white  men,  and  going  to  a  far  country  :  as  it  is,  I 
continued,  Red-Jacket  is  doing  more  than  any  body  else 
to  break  up  and  drive  away  his  people. 

"  This  conversation  had  much  effect  on  him.  He 
grasped  my  hand  and  said  if  that  were  the  case  it  was 
new  to  him.  He  also  said  he  would  lay  it  up  in  his 
mind,  [putting  his  hand  to  his  noble  forehead,]  and  talk 
of  it  to  the  chiefs  and  the  people.  •    • 

"  It  is  a  very  striking  fact,  that  the  disgraceful  scenes 
now  passing  before  the  public  eye  over  the  grave  of 
Red-Jacket,  so  early  and  so  sadly  fulfil  these  predictions ; 
p,nd  I  cannot  here  forbear  to  add  that  the  thanks  of  the 
nation  are  due  to  our  present  chief  magistrate,*  for  the 


*  This  letter  was  written  in  January,  1841,  ond  the  President  alluded  to  is 
Mr.  Van  Buren.     W.  L.  S. 


,t, — and 
ur  best 
you  can 
hunting 
e  white 
1.     Your 
lite  peo- 
id  have 
;ach  you 
farms  of 
lid  keep 
;d  up  by 
many  of 
icre,  and 
iries  and 
asit  is,  I 
)ody  else 

.     He 

it  was 
in  his 
and  talk 

scenes 

jrave  of 

ictions ; 

s  of  the 

for  the 

iludcd  to  is 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


345 


firmness  with  which  he  has  resisted  the  recent  efforts  to 
force  a  fraudulent  treaty  on  the  remnant  of  this  injured 
people  ;  and  drive  them  against  their  will,  and  atjainst 
law  and  treaties  sacredly  made,  away  from  their  lands, 
to  satisfy  the  rapacity  of  unprincipled  men. 

"  It  may  be  proper  here  to  say  likewise,  that  I  do  by 
no  means  intend  to  justify  all  that  may  possibly  have 
been  done  by  the  missionaries  to  the  Senccas.  It  is 
probable  the  earliest  efforts  were  badly  conducted  ;  and 
men  of  more  ability  ought  to  have  been  sent  to  that  pe- 
culiar and  difficult  station.  But  it  is  not  for  a  moment 
to  be  admitted,  nor  is  it  credible  that  the  authors  of  the 
charges  themselves  believe  it,  that  the  worthy  men  who 
at  every  sacrifice  went  to  the  mission  among  the  Senecas, 
had  any  other  than  the  purest  purposes.  I  visited  the 
station,  and  intimately  knew  the  chief  missionary.  I 
marked  carefully  their  plan  and  progress,  and  do  not 
doubt  their  usefulness  any  more  than  their  uprightness  ; 
and  beyond  all  doubt  it  was  owing  chiefly  to  malignant 
influence  exerted  by  white  men,  that  they  finally  failed 
in  their  benevolent  designs.  But  my  business  is  to 
narrate,  not  to  discuss. 

"  My  next  object  was  to  talk  with  Red-Jacket  about 
Christianity  itself.  He  was  prompt  in  his  replies,  and 
exercised  and  encouraged  frankness  with  a  spirit  be- 
coming a  great  man. 

"  He  admitted  both  its  truth  and  excellence,  as  adap- 
ted to  white  men.  He  said  some  keenly  sarcastic 
things  about  the  treatment  that  so  good  a  man  as  Jesus 
had  received  from  white  men.     The  white  men,  he  said, 

44 


1  1 


[■^H.\ 


!  1': 

1 

-' 

.1 

.;'  ;l 

i        1 

J,  ! 

'jil' 


1 

u^^^^^^v 

Tn^^^^^H 

jB^^^^H 

H^^^Bp 

346 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


ought  all  to  be  sent  to  hell  for  killing  him ;  but  as  the 
Indians  had  no  hand  in  that  transaction,  they  were  in 
that  matter  inno^'^nt.  Jesus  Christ  was  not  sent  to 
them  ;  the  atonement  was  not  made  for  them ;  nor  the 
Bible  given  to  tliem  ;  and  therefore  the  Christian  religion 
was  not  meant  fir  them.  If  the  Great  Spirit  had  in- 
tended that  the  Indians  should  be  Christians,  he  would 
have  made  his  revelation  to  them  as  well  as  to  the  white 
men.  Not  having  done  so,  it  was  clearly  his  will  that 
they  should  continue  in  the  I'aith  of  their  lathers.  He 
said  that  the  red  man  was  of  a  totallv  diflerent  race, — 
and  needed  an  entirely  diflerent  religion, — nnd  that  it 
was  idle  as  well  as  unkind,  to  try  to  alter  their  religion 
and  give  them  ours.  I  asked  him  to  point  out  the  ditler- 
ence  of  the  races,  contending  that  they  were  one,  and 
needed  ])ut  one  religion,  and  that  Christianity  was  that 
religion  which  Christ  had  intended  for,  and  ordered  to 
be  preached  to,  all  men.  He  had  no  distinct  views  of 
the  nature  of  Christianity  as  a  method  of  salvation,  and 
denied  the  need  of  it.  As  to  the  un\t\j  ol*  the  races,  I 
asked  if  he  over  knew  two  distinct  races,  even  of  the 
lower  animals,  to  propagate  llieir  seed  from  generation 
to  generation.  But  do  not  Indians  antl  wiiite  men  do 
so  ?  lie  allowed  it ;  but  denied  that  it  proved  the  matter 
in  hand.  1  pressed  tlie  points  of  resemblance  in  every 
thing  but  color, — and  that  in  tiie  case  of  the  Ciiristian 
Indians  thei-e  was  a  common  mind  on  religion.  He 
finally  waived  this  part  of  the  debate  by  saying  "  that  one 
thing  was  certain  whatever  else  was  not, — that  white 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


347 


ut  as  the 

were  in 

sent  to 

1  nor  the 

I  rehgion 

liad  in- 

le  would 

he  white 

will  tliat 

ers.    He 

t  race, — 

d  that  it 

religion 

he  diUcr- 

one,  and 

was  that 

dered  to 

views  of 

ion,  and 

races,  I 

n  of  the 

notation 

incMi  do 

matter 

u  ovcry 

iiistian 

He 

hat  one 

t  white 


in. 


men  had  a  great  love  for  Indian  women,  and  left  their 
traces  behind  them  wherever  they  could."* 

"  On  the  point  of  needing  pardon,  from  being  wicked, 
he  said  the  Indians  were  good  till  the  white  man  cor- 
rupted them.  "  But  did  not  the  Indians  have  some  wick- 
edness hrfore  that  .^"  "  Not  so  mnch.''^  "  How  was  that 
regarded  by  the  Great  Spirit.''  Would  He  forgive  it  .^" 
He  hoped  so, — "  did  not  know."     "  Jesus,"  I  rejoined, 

"  came  to  tell  us  He  would,  and  to  get  that  pardon  for 

11-.  " 
us. 

"  As  to  suffering  and  deadi  among  the  Indiiuis,  did 
not  they  prove  that  the  (Jreat  S|)irit  was  angry  with 
them,  as  well  as  witli  white  men  .''  Would  He  thus  treat 
men  that  were  good?  He  said  they  were  not  wicked  be- 
fore white  men  came  to  their  country  and  tiinuht  lliem 
to  be  so.  But  diey  died  hrfore  that?  And  why  did  they 
die,  ilthe  (!reat  Spirit  was  not  angry,  and  they  wicked  .'' 
He  could  not  sny,  and  in  reply  to  my  explanation  of  the 
gospel  doctrine  of  the  entrance  of  de:ilh  by  sin,  he 
again  turned  the  subject  by  saying  he  was  ji  "  great 
doctor,"  and  could  cure  any  thing  but  death. 

"  The  interpreter  had  incidentally  mentioned  that 
the  reason  the  chiefs  had  to  go  homo  so  soon,  was  that 
they  always  sacrificed  a  white  dog  on  the  death  of  a  great 
7nan.  I  turned  this  fact  to  the  account  of  the  argument, 
and  endeavored  to  connect  it  with,  and  exj)liiin  l>y  it, 
the  iloclrine  of  atonement,  by  the  blood  of  Christ,  and 

*  In  atiiitlior  convprintion  ujinii  'tiiH  auhjoct,  I  buliovc  with  Dr.  liicckciiiitlgc, 
Ilod-.Tiir'ii'i  uxpi'LMitod  iliii  idea  muro  pungctitly,  ui  inny  be  »ui>ii  by  leffrring 
buck  to  [)<\go  lU(j.     W.  L.  S. 


'li     '. 


il^t 


348 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


K--' 


rii "' 


also  pressed  him  on  the  questions,  how  can  this  please 
the  Great  Spirit,  on  your  plan  ?  W/'s/  do  you  offer  such  a 
sacrifice,  for  so  it  is  considered  ?  And  where  they  got  such 
a  rite  from  ?  lie  attempted  no  definite  reply. 

'•  Many  other  topics  were  talked  over.  But  these 
specimens  suffice  to  illustrate  his  views,  and  mode  of 
thinUins^. 

"  At  the  close  of  the  conversation  he  proposed  to  give 
me  a  name,  that  henceforth  I  might  be  numliercd  among 
his  friends,  and  admitted  to  the  intercourse  and  regards 
of  the  nation.  Supposing  this  not  amiss,  1  consented. 
But  before  lie  proceeded  he  called  lor  some  m  iiiskey. 
He  was  at  this  time  an  intemperate  man, — and  tiiough 
perfectly  sober  on  that  occasion,  evidently  displayed 
toward  the  dose  of  the  interview  the  need  of  stimulus, 
whicii  it  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  we  carefully  kept 
from  him.  liut  lie  insisted  now,  and  after  some  time  a 
small  portion  was  sent  to  him  ;it  the  bottom  of  a  de- 
canter. He  looked  at  it, — shook  it, — ;ind  with  a  sneer 
said, — '*  Why,  here  is  not  whiskey  enougii  lor  a  name 
to  float  in."  But  no  movement  being  rnaile  to  get  more, 
he  drank  it  oil",  and  proceeded  witii  a  sort  of  |);igaii  or- 
gies, to  give  me  a  name.  It  seemed  a  semi-civil,  semi- 
religious  ceremony.  lie  walked  around  me  again  and 
again,  muttering  sounds  which  the  interpreter  did  not 
venture  to  explain  ;  and  laying  his  hand  on  me  pro- 
nounced me  "  Coii-go-gu-wah,"  and  instantly,  willi  great 
apparent  dcligiil,  took  mc  by  tiie  hand  as  a  bnilhcr.  I 
lelt  badly  during  the  scene,  but  it  was  beyond  recall, — 
and  supposing  that  it  might  be  useful  in  a  future  day, 
submitted  to  tlie  initiation. 


is  phase 
r  such  a 
2;ot  such 

at  these 
mode  of 

1  to  give 
1  iimong 
rcgnrds 
msented. 
^vliiskey. 

[    tllOlinh 

ispliiyed 
stimulus, 
illy  kept 
le  tiiiie  a 
)t"  a  de- 
a  sneer 
a  name 
ret  more, 
igan  or- 
il,  srmi- 
>;iiii  and 
did   not 
nit!  pro- 
ii'i  great 
<Ui('r.     I 
•('cidl, — 
ure  day. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


349 


"  Rcd-Jackct  was  in  appearance  nearly  sixty  years 
old  at  this  time.     He  had  a  weather-beaten  look ;  age 
had  done  somctiiing  to  produce  this, — probably  intempe- 
rance more.     But  still  his  general  appearance  was  stri- 
king and  his  face  noble.     His  lotty  and  capacious  fore- 
head, his  piercing  black  eye,  his  gently  curved  lips,  fine 
cheek,  and  sligiitb/^  aquiline  nose,  all  marked  a  great 
man,  and  as  sustained  and  expressed  by  his  digniticd 
air,  made  a  deep  impression  on  every  one  that  saw  him. 
All  these  features  became  doubly  expressive  when  his 
mind  and  body  were    set    in    motion    by  the  eflbrt   of 
speaking, — if  efloit  that  may  be  called  which  flowed 
like  a  free  full  stream  from  his  lips.     1  saw  him  in  the 
wane  of  life,  and    I   iieard  him  only    in  private,  and 
thro'i^h  a  stupid  and  careless  interpreter.     Yet  notwith- 
standing these  disadvantages,  he  was  one  of  the  greatest 
men  and  most  eloipicnt  orators  I  ever  knew.     His  ca* 
dence  was  measured  and  yet  very  musicJil.     In  ordi- 
nary utterance  it  amounted  to  a  sort  of  musical  mono- 
tony.    But  when  excited  he  would  S))ring  to  his  feet, 
elevate  his  head,  expand  his  arms,  and  utter  with  inde- 
scribable effect  of  manner  and  tone,  some  of  his  noblest 
thoughts. 

•'  After  this  interesting  conference  had  closed,  the  old 
chief  with  his  interpreter  br  dc  us  a  very  civil  and  kind 
farewell,  and  set  forth  on  fo(     ':>r  his  own  wigwam. 

"  It  was  four  years  after  hi^  before  I  had  the  plea- 
sure of  again  seeing  my  oil  friend  I  was  ijien  on  a 
flying  visit  to  lilack  U^'-  k  At  an  eany  day  I  repaired 
to  his  village,  but  he  was  n.it  at  home.     Ten  days  after, 


i\' 


1 1'- 


s 


14  <■ 


m 


i 


m  .  ,1:. 


li 


f^ 


350 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


as  we  were  just  leaving  the  shore  in  the  steam-boat  to 
go  up  the  lake,  he  suddenly  presented  himself.  It  was 
unhappily  too  late  to  return.  He  hailed  me  by  name, 
and  pointed  with  much  animation  to  such  parts  of  his 
person  as  were  decorated  with  some  red  cloth  which  I  had 
at  parting  presented  to  him,  and  which,  thougii  not  worn 
as  a  Jacket,  was  with  much  taste  otherwise  distributed 
over  his  person.  These  he  exhil)ited  as  proofs  of  his 
friendly  recollection. 

"  Tlie  last  time  I  ever  saw  him,  was  at  the  close  of 
Mr.  Adams's  administration.  He,  with  a  new  interpreter, 
(Mnjor  Berry  having  been  removed  by  death,)  had  been 
on  ;i  visit  to  his  old  friend  Co-na-shus-ta!i, — then  Secre- 
tary of  War.  After  spending  some  time  at  the  capital, 
where  I  often  met  him,  and  had  the  horror  to  sec  his 
'  dignity  often  laid  in  the  dust,'  by  excessive  drunken- 
ness, he  paid  me  by  invitation  a  final  visit  at  Bidtimore, 
on  his  way  home.  He  took  only  time  enough  to  dine. 
Ho  looked  dejected  and  forlorn.  He  and  his  interpre- 
ter had  each  a  suit  of  common  intantry  uniform,  and  a 
sword  as  common,  which  he  said  had  been  presented  to 
him  at  the  war  department.  He  was  evidently  ashamed 
of  tlicni.  I  confess  I  was  too.  But  I  forb(;:ir.  He 
was  then  sober,  and  serious.  He  drank  hard  cider, 
which  was  the  strongest  drink  1  could  conscientiously 
offer  him, — so  I  told  him.  He  said  it  was  enough.  I 
said  but  little  to  i.'im  of  religion, — urgtul  him  to  |)repare 
to  meet  the  Great  Spirit,  and  recommended  him  to  go  to 
Jcsiis  for  all  he  needed.  He  took  it  kiudlv, — said  he 
should  see  nie  no  more, — and  was  going  to  his  people  to 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


351 


die.     So  it  was, — not  long  after  this,  he  was  called  to 
his  last  account.  JOHN  BRECKENRIDCiE." 

On  another  occasion,  at  no  great  distance  of  time  from 
his  first  interview  with  Doctor  Breckenridgc,  the  supe- 
rior bcnofils  of  husbandry,  education,  the  enjoyments 
and  refinements  of  civilized  life,  and  the  blessings  of 
Christianity  having  been  urged  upon  him  by  a  benevo- 
lent gentleman  with  great  earnestness,  Rod-Jacket  re- 
plied in  the  following  strain  : — 

"  As  to  civilization,  among  white  people,  I  believe  it  is  a 
good  tiling,  and  that  it  was  so  orujred  that  they  should  get 
their  living  in  that  manner.  I  believe  in  a  (rod,  and  that  it 
was  ordered  by  him  that  we,  the  red  people,  should  get  our 
living  in  a  different  way,  viz  :  from  the  wild  game  of  the 
woods  ami  the  fihlies  of  the  waters.  I  believe  in  the  Great 
Spirit  wiio  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth.  He  peopled 
the  forests,  and  the  air  and  the  waters.  He  then  created 
man,  and  placed  him  as  the  superior  animal  of  this  crea- 
tion, and  designed  him  as  governor  over  all  otlier  created  be- 
ings on  earth.  He  created  man  differing  from  all  <ither  ani- 
mals. He  (treated  the  red  man,  the  white,  the  black,  and 
yellow.  All  these  he  created  for  wise,  but  inscrutable  pur- 
poses," &c.* 

To  prove  this  he  reasoned  from  analogy,  from  the 
varieties  in  the  same  species,  and  from  the  diflercnt 
S[)ecies  uiidcr  a  common  genus  in  all  other  animals, 
wliether  (juadruped,  fowl,  or  fish, — pointed  out  their 
dilbrent  modes  of  living,  and  showed  that  they  each 
had  a  distinct  designation  assigned  to  Uiem  in  the  grand 

•  MS.  collection  of  Jojpph  W-  Moulioti. 


:■ 


lilT 


352 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


ii 


,  4  ; 


^\ 


>i 


arrangement  of  the  animal  economy  by  the  Great  Spirit. 
He  proceeded  : — 

•  "  This  beinsf  so,  what  proof  have  wo  that  ho  did  not  make' 
similar  arrangement  with  tlie  human  species,  when  we  find 
so  vast,  so  various,  and  so  irreconcileable  a  variety  among 
them,  causing  them  to  live  differently,  and  to  pursue  different 
occupations.  As  to  religion,  we  all  ought  to  have  it.  We 
should  adore  and  worship  our  Creator  for  his  great  favors  in 
placing  us  over  all  his  works.  If  we  cannot  with  the  same 
fluency  of  sj)eech,  and  in  the  seme  flowing  language,  wor- 
ship as  you  do,  we  have  our  mode  of  adoring,  which  we  do 
with  a  sincere  heart, — then  can  you  say  that  our  prayers  and 
thanksgivings,  proceeding  fn^M  grateful  hearts  and  sincere 
minds,  are  less  acceptable  to  the  (rrjat  God  of  the  heavens 
and  llie  earth,  though  manifested  either  by  speaking,  d.ancing, 
or  feasting,  than  your's,  uttered  ir  your  own  manner  and 
style  1"* 

Doctor  Breckenridgo  laments,  in  the  preceding  le  ter, 
his  inaliiUty  to  make  even  ;m  approach  to  justice  as  to 
the  lan^T'iage  and  figures  in  which  Red-JacKct  clothed 
his  thoughts,  anfl  hy  which  he  illustrated  and  enforced 
them.  The  same  confession  has  been  unilbrmiyeUcited 
from  every  writer  wluj  enjoyed  opportunities  of  listening 
to  the  chief  or  conversing  with  him.     General  Porter, 

*  In  tlioir  mode  of  worship,  tlio  Six  Nniiuns  luldrcuscil  the  Greiu  Spirit  with 
tlmnli!)  iiiul  pniyrr  liy  jiurliculnr  spiNiki-rs.  'I'licy  tlii'ii  Iriistnl,  or  ••cli'lirntpd  a 
tliaiiiv.'tgiving,  closing  with  daticini;  mid  other  umii«iTncnta  niid  rrrrcnlion*. 
Their  great  ri'ligiou*  fi'Ptivoli,  when  the  convornlions  were  gfrnernl,  wcrr  •'cmi- 
onriiml,  nnd  ooiiiiiiiU'd  (Vmii  ihrcc  to  six  diiys.  W'hili^  prnvvM  is  otloruil,  lli>.'  dust 
of  tiiliiiccd  is  spiiiiklc'd  on  live  coiils  of  fjif,  tlint  llic  inct'iiso  mny  nsccnd  with 
thi'ir  supplications.  Tliiiiiks  nro  rnturnod  tor  all  their  t<'tn)iorQl  merrioj, — their 
Uvea,  licalth,  cropa,  gaiiiu,  and  iu  a  wurd  fur  all  ihu  buuntius  received  from  the 
Gn'it  Spirit. 


II 


!i^ 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


353 


r,-.. 


,t  Spirit. 


not  make' 
I  wo  find 
y  among 
!  different 
it.     We 
favors  in 
the  same 
age,  wor- 
ich  we  do 
ay  era  and 
id  sincere 
e  heavens 
r,  dancing, 
anner  and 


ing  Ic  ter, 
ice  as  to 
t  clothed 
enforced 
ly  elicited 
istening 
Porter, 

[it  Sjiiiit  with 

li'i'li'bintcd  a 

ncrrntiuns. 

(,  won*  '•cmi- 

\Vl\,    till?  >lll8t 

nAi-t'iid  with 
■ri-ii'J, — thoir 
k'd  ti'uni  thu 


than  whom  no  one  knew  him  better,  speaks  of  him  as 
a  man  "endowed  with  great  intellectual  powers,  and 
who,  as  an  orator,  was  not  only  nnsnrpasscd,  Init  un- 
equalled, longo  intcrvallo,  l)y  any  of  his  cotemporaries. 
Although  those  who  were  ignorant  of  his  language  could 
not  fully  appreciate  the  force  and  beauty  of  his  speeches, 
when  received  through  the  medium  of  an  interpretation, 
— generally  coarse  and  clumsy, — yet  such  was  the  pecu- 
liar gracefulness  of  his  person,  attitudes  and  action,  and 
the  mellow  tones  of  his  Seneca  dialect,  and  such  the 
astonishing  effects  produced  on  that  part  of  the  audito- 
ry who  did  fully  understand  him,  ;ind  whose  souls  ap- 
peared to  be  engrossed  and  borne  away  with  the  orator, 
that  he  was  listened  to  by  all  with  perfect  deliglit."* 
He  drew  his  arguments  from  the  natural  relations  and 
fitness  of  thintrs.  His  mind  glanced  through  the  visi- 
])le  creation,  and  from  analogy  he  reasoned  iti  <i  way 
that  often  baHlcd  and  defied  refutation.  His  fia:ures 
were  from  the  same  inexhaustil)lc  fountain,  and  were 
frequently  so  sublime,  so  apposite,  and  so  beautiful,  that 
the  interpreters  often  said  the  English  language  was  not 
rich  enough  to  allow  of  doing  him  justice.  Such,  at 
least,  have  been  the  representations  of  those  who  knew 
him  well,  and  who  have  had  the  best  opportunities  of 
arriving  at  correct  conclusions.  Nevertheless,  the  cha- 
racter of  nearly  all  his  speeches  that  have  been  pre- 
served, as  they  have  been  preserved,  licars  evidence 
rather  of  the  entlmsiusm  of  his  admirers,  than  of  their 
judgment. 

*  MS.  leaer  tu  the  autftar  from  Gentrol  I'onor. 

43 


;  1  ■      ; 


'!l^ 


■-•  v 


m  ■  i 


[■''i 


H 

I  :i 
1  -• 
■  I 


V, 


ii 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Red-Jackkt's  domostir  relations — Loss  of  liis  childrpn  by  rnnsiimptinn — His 
second  wifo  becomes  o  Christian — Separation  from  lier,  niiJ  union  with  on- 
otlier — Returns  to  his  lawful  wifo — Is  received  and  lives  in  harmony — Red- 
Jacket  and  Lafayette — Red-Jacket  and  the  French  Count — Scornful  behavior 
to  a  visitor  from  Albany — Anecdotes  of  Red-Jacket  and  Colonel  Pickering — 
His  vai'tv — Launch  of  a  sliKip  bearing  iiis  name — lliract — Ar.ecd.Uo  of  a 
dinner  [)arlv — Red-Jacket  at  a  trial  at  Datavia — His  notions  of  law,  and  his 
hmnor — Anecdote  of  Red-Jacket  and  Captain  Jones — Red-Jacket  and  the 
execution  of  the  Tliayers — Anecdote  of  Ilot-Uread — Oj)inion  of  Thomas  Mor- 
ris of  his  character  and  oratory — I'aintings  of  Red- Jacket — His  love  of  tho 
woods. 

The  domestic  relations  of  Rod-Jacket  have  thus 
far  scarcely  been  adverted  to.  Indeed,  tlie  materials 
for  his  family  history  are  very  slender.  The  orator  had 
two  wives.  The  first,  after  having  borne  him  a  large 
family  of  children,  he  forsook,  lor  an  alleged  breach  of 
conjugal  lidelity,  and  never  received  her  to  his  favor 
again.  In  William  Savary's  journal  of  the  treaty  of 
Canandaigua,  in  17!)4,  that  excellent  Friend  gave  nn  ac- 
count of  a  visit  to  Red-Jacket's  lotlge,  iind  spoke  of  his 
children,  in  regard  to  their  appearance  iinil  manners,  in 
terms  of  gratitied  commendation.  But  a  l.irge  number 
of  his  children  by  the  first  wife  died  of  consumption 
vvliiie  yet  "  in  the  dew  of  their  youth.*"  in  a  conversa- 
tion with  that  eminent  medical  prsutitioner.  Doctor  John 
W.  Francis,  of  New-Y<jrk,  a  few  \      rs  before  the  chief- 


LIFE  AND  TIMES,  &c. 


35-5 


tain's  death,  on  the  subject  of  the  diseases  incident  to  the 
Indians,  Red-Jacket  refuted  the  popular  notion  that  they 
were  not  efjually  obnoxious  with  others  to  puhiionary 
complaints.  In  support  of  his  position  he  instanced  the 
case  of  his  own  family,  of  which  lie  said  seventeen  had 
died  of  consumption,  ten  or  eleven  of  'iviiom  were  his 
children.  He  felt  the  bereavement  deeply,  and  some- 
times evinced  strong  emotion  when  conversing  upon  the 
subject.  On  one  occasion,  when  visiting  ;in  aged  lady 
of  his  acquaintance  at  Avon,  who  hatl  known  him 
almost  from  iiis  youth,*  and  who  was  aware  of  his 
domestic  a  mictions,  she  inquired  whether  any  of  his 
children  were  living.  He  fixed  his  eyes  upon  her  with 
a  sorrowful  expression  of  countenance  and  replied  : — 


:'  i!t| 


■<u 


m 


"  Red-.Tacket  was  once  a  great  man,  and  in  i'avor  witli  the 
Great  Spirit.  Ho  was  a  lofty  piiio  among  tli(;  smaller  trees  of 
the  forest,  liut  after  years  of  glory  he  degraded  himself  by 
drinking  the  fire-water  of  the  white  man.  The  (rreat  Spirit 
has  looked  upon  him  in  anger,  and  his  lightning  has  stripped 
the  pine  of  its  branches  !" 


! 


For  his  second  wife  Red-Jacket  married  the  widow 
of  a  deceased  chief,  whose  English  name  was  "  Two- 
Guns."  She  was  one  of  the  most  amiable  and  respect- 
able women  of  her  tribe.  Her  mind  was  of  a  superior 
order,  and  the  dignity  of  her  manners  and  fine  personal 

*  The  Into  Mis.  Horry,  of  tlie  fJciiosoe  Valloy,  wife  of  (iilbert  U.  Horry,  ono 
of  tho  curliost  sotllora  of  wo-»'.(  rei  New-York,  aiul  a  trador  nf  iln'  Tiulian 
town,  oiico  strtiiilin^  near  the  plncc  where  the  turnpike  crosses  tho  Genesee  river 
at  Avon.  Mrs.  Ucrry  was  thi;  mother  of  Mrs.  George  Hosmer,  from  whom  I 
reccivoil  this  toiioliin;;  iiiciiient.  Mrs.  Jl.  was  a  great  friend  of  the  Scnecas,  and 
Bjiokc  their  language,  (as  does  Mrs.  Ilusmer,)  fluently. 


\f^ 


til' 


35G 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


i  't 


»f. 


4. 


&  If  I' 


appearance  rendered  hft  a  very  suitable  counterpart  to 
the  noble  Ibrm  and  bearing  of  her  husband.  It  is  an  in- 
teresting, if  not  remarkable  fact,  that  notwithstanding 
the  inveterate  hostility  of  Red-Jacket  to  the  missionaries, 
and  his  confirmed  paganism,  hi^  wife  became  a  Christian, 
and  several  of  his  children  wt  re  believed  to  have  died 
in  tlie  same  faith. 

It  was  in  the  year  l''-20  that  his  wife  first  became 
interested  in  the  subject  of  reliu;ion.  She  was  frequent- 
ly seen  in  the  Christian  assembly,  an  attentive  listener 
to  the  trutiis  of  the  gospel,  as  presented  from  Sabbath 
to  Sabbath  in  the  plain  familiar  address  of  the  mission- 
ary. She  at  length  abandoned  her  pagan  worship  alto- 
gether, became  a  constant  attendant  at  the  mission 
chapel,  antl  in  the  following  year  proposed  connecting 
herself  with  the  little  church  then  under  the  pastoral 
ciiarge  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Harris.  This  |)roposal  was  strong- 
ly resisted  on  the  part  of  Red-Jacket.  He  represented 
t(j  her  "  that  they  had  liitherto  ever  lived  in  peace  and 
harmony,  and  had  l)een  prosperous  and  happy;  and 
now  if  she  was  going  to  leave  him  and  go  over  and 
join  iierself  to  the  company  of  his  political  and  personal 
opponents,  one  thing  was  certain,  that  he  should  leave 
her  for  ever  ;  he  should  never  come  to  see  iier  again." 
Soon  alter  this  somewhat  arbitrary  communication,  she 
v/ent  one  day  to  the  house  f)f  Mr.  Harris,  apparently  in 
much  distress,  to  ask  counsel  as  to  tiie  course  she  ought 
to  pursue.  The  advice  can  readily  be  anticipated.  She 
was  told  that  God  required  her  to  be  a  Christian  under 
all  possible  circumstances  ; — that  it  was  best  to  follow 


l"":S 


* 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


357 


the  dictates  of  her  conscience  and  the  commands  of 
Jesus  Christ ; — and  that  if  she  would  humbly  look  to  the 
Saviour  for  grace,  He  would  strengthen  and  comfort 
her  under  this  trial,  and  cause  it  "  to  work  for  her 
good."  Still,  although  holding  the  course  thus  indicated 
to  be  the  path  of  duty,  the  missionary  very  properly  ob- 
served to  her  that  she  must  be  governed  in  her  decision 
by  the  voice  of  conscience,  and  tlie  dictates  of  her  own 
judgment. 

Her  resolution  was  soon  taken  to  abjure  the  dark  and 
senseless  superstitions  of  her  people  ;  and  in  a  short 
time  thereafter  she  ^iis  received  on  the  profession  of 
her  lliitii  into  di  ilowship  of  the  Christian  church. 
True  to  his  threat,  Jacket  left  her ;  and  retiring  to 

the  Tonnewantii  rcacrvation,  connected  himself  with  a 
woman  of  that  nation.  ISo  one  questioned  the  sincerity 
or  the  strength  of  the  attachment  of  the  woman  tims 
abandoned  for  her  husband,  yet  she  followed  not  after 
him,  nor  made  any  efforts  to  induce  his  return.  The 
injury  was  borne  with  a  meek  and  submissive  spirit, — - 
so  much  so  as  to  endear  her  greatly  to  the  members 
of  the  mission  family,  to  whom  she  became  much  at- 
tached, and  with  whom  she  was  wont  lo  spend  several 
hours  almost  every  week,  in  Christian  conversation 
and  prayer. 

Red-Jacket  continued  absent,  in  his  new  alliance,  for 
six  or  seven  months,  by  which  time  he  repented  of  his 
folly  and  returned  to  his  lawful  wife,  whom  he  urgently  sO' 
hcited  to  receive  him  back.  She  did  receive  him, with  the 
same  meek  and  forgiving  spirit  that  marked  her  character 


il'  ! 


If.    '; 


hi 


ii'  ill 


v>.  .^> 


.0^.  \t>^S. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


4j 


V  c^^ 


.^'  ijy  j% 


V.    V    .   '^ 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


t    Itf    12.0 


IM 

2.2 


IIIW 

U    nil  1.6 


7. 


<^ 


/^ 


(? 


'V 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


33  WIST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY    I4S80 

(716)  873-4503 


^       .A        '.^k.     ^^  VI 

^1> 


i 


358 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


1 


Iji !' 


and  conduct  during  her  desertion.  But  it  was  with  the 
condition  that  she  should  be  unmolested  in  regard  to  her 
religious  opinions,  and  the  discharge  of  her  Christian 
duties, — a  condition  to  which  Red-Jacket  willingly  ac- 
ceded. Their  conjugal  relations  having  been  thus  re- 
established, the  chieftain  and  his  wife  continued  to  live 
together  with  their  usual  harmony,  until  a  divorce  was 
pronounced  by  a  summons  from  another  world.* 

When,  in  the  year  lS2o,  General  Lafayette,  as  the 
guest  of  the  nation,  was  making  his  memorable  tour 
of  the  United  States,  being  at  Builido,  Red-Jacket  was 
among  the  visitors  who  in  throngs  ])aid  tlieir  respects  to 
the  veteran.  Having  been  presented  to  the  General,  the 
orator  incjuircd  whether  lie  remembered  being  at  the 
treaty  of  peace  with  the  Six  Nations,  at  Fort  Stanwix, 
in  17S4.  Lafayette  answered  that  he  had  not  I'orgotten 
that  great  council,  and  asked  his  interrogatf)r  if  he  knew 
what  had  become  of  the  young  chief  who,  on  that  occa- 
sion, opj)osed  with  so  much  eloquence  "  the  burj'ing  of 
the  tomaliawk."  "  He  is  before  you,''''  was  the  instant  re- 
ply. The  General  remarked  to  him  that  time  had 
wrought  great  changes  upon  both  since  that  meraoral.)le 
meeting.  "  Ah,"  rejoined  Red-Jacket,  "  time  has  not 
been  so  severe  upon  you  as  it  has  upon  me.  It  has  left 
you  a  fresh  countenance,  and  hair  to  cover  your  liead  ; 
while  to  me behold !"  and  taking  a  hand- 
kerchief from  his  head,  with  an  air  of  nuich  feeling, 
he  disclosed  the  fact  that  lie  was  nearly  bald.     It  is 


*  1  Imvo  ilorivcJ  tlic  facts  of  this  relation  roRpcctirig  Rcd-Jockotand  hi»  second 
wifu,  directly  from  Mr.  Harrii,  the  misaiuimr)',  himself. 


•««^^^J5^  V 


with  the 
ircl  to  her 
Christian 
lintilv  ac- 
1  thus  re- 
id  to  hvc 
'orce  was 
.* 

te,  as  the 

able  tour 

ickct  was 

EJspects  to 

neral,  the 

niX  at  the 

Stanwix, 

i'ornotten 

fhe  knew 

hat  occa- 

lurving  of 

nstiint  rc- 

lune   bad 

enioral)le 

has  not 

t  lias  left 

ir  head ; 

I  liand- 

feehng, 

I.     It  is 

id  his  second 


OF  RKD-JACKET.  3,-^9 

added  by  M.  Lavasseur,  the  secretary  of  General  La- 
fa3^ettc,  and  the  French  historian  of  his  tour,  that  the 
people  in  atteiKlance  could  not  help  laughing  at  the  sim- 
plicity of  the  Indian,  who  appeared  to  be  ignorant  how 
to  repair  the  ravages  of  age  in  this  respect.  But  his 
simplicity  was  presently  enlightened  by  the  disclosure 
of  the  fact  diat  the  General  was  furnished  with  a  wig, — 
whereupon  the  chief,  confounding  a  wig  widi  a  scalp, 
conceived  the  idea  of  regarnishing  his  own  head  by  an 
operation  truly  Indian,  at  the  expense  of  some  one  of 
his  neighbors.  But  this  was  a  suggestion  of  pleasantry. 
M.  Lavasseur  remarked  of  the  appearance  of  Red-.Tack- 
et  at  that  time, — "  This  extraordinary  man,  although 
much  worn  down  by  time  and  intemperance,  preserves 
yet,  in  a  surprising  degree,  the  exercise  of  all  his  facul- 
ties. He  obstinately  refuses  to  speak  any  language  but 
that  of  his  own  people,  and  affects  a  great  dislike  to  all 
others,  akhough  it  is  easy  to  discern  that  iio  perfectly 
understands  the  English.  He  refused,  nevertheless,  to 
reply  to  the  General  before  his  interpreter  had  translated 
his  questions  into  the  Seneca  language."* 

Red-Jacket  was  ever  gratified  with  the  attentions  of 
distinguished  nun,  with  whom,  no  matter  for  the  height 
of  dieir  elevation,  he  felt  himself  upon  a  looting  of  perfect 
ecjuality.  It  is  related  that  "about  the  yc.'ar  isxJO,  a 
young  French  nobleman,  who  was  making  ilu^  tour  of 
the  United  States,  visited  the  town  of  Bullido.     Hearing 

*  Lavasseur — Dralvc — H.  B.  Tlmtclior.  M.  Lavasseur  was  perfectly  correct 
in  tliis  Inst  siigirestion.  ReJ-Jacltct  undcrstonil  tlie  I'.rij^lisli  liiiiKUHge  very  well, 
as  tho  QUlhui'  liud  occosiuii  to  ascertain.      But  ho  cuulil  nut  npeuk  it  well. 


It'    i 


I     '■ 


'■'i 


ii 


I 


1       i'Vi 

l-     1'. 


II 


360 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


I  Ui 


ll'f 


J    Ji 


I  f 


ll 


of  the  fame  of  Red-Jacket,  and  learning  that  his  residence 
was  but  seven  miles  distant,  he  sent  him  word  that  he 
was  desirous  to  see  him,  adding  a  request  that  the  chief 
would  visit  him  in  Buffalo  the  next  da)'.  Red-Jacket 
received  the  message  with  much  contempt,  and  replied : — 
"  Tell  the  yojmg  man  that  if  he  wishes  to  visit  the  old 
chief,  he  may  find  him  with  his  nation,  where  other 
strangers  paj"  their  respects  to  him ;  and  Red-Jacket 
will  be  glad  to  see  him."  The  count  sent  back  his  mes- 
senger, to  say  that  he  was  fatigued  with  his  journe}^  and 
could  not  go  to  the  >Seneca  village  ;  that  he  had  come  all 
the  way  from  France  to  see  the  great  orator  of  the 
Senecas,  and  after  having  put  himself  to  so  much  trouble 
to  see  so  distinguished  a  man,  the  latter  could  not  refuse 
to  meet  him  at  Buffalo.  *'  Tell  him,"  said  the  sarcastic 
chief,  "  that  it  is  very  strange  he  should  come  so  far  to 
see  me,  and  then  stop  short  within  seven  miles  of  my 
lodge."  The  retort  was  richly  merited.  The  count 
visited  him  at  his  wigwam,  and  then  Red-Jacket  accepted 
an  invitation  to  dine  with  him  at  his  lodgings  in  Buffalo. 
The  young  nobleman  was  greatly  pleased  with  him,  de- 
claring that  he  considered  him  a  greater  wonder  than  the 
Falls  of  Niagara.  This  remark  was  the  more  striking, 
as  it  was  made  witliin  view  of  the  great  cataract.  *'  But," 
adda  the  relator,*  "  it  was  just.  He  who  made  the  world, 
and  filled  it  with  wonders,  has  declared  man  to  be  the 
crowning  work  of  the  whole  creation." 

But  the  chieftain  did  not  always  stand  so  sternly  upon 
his  dignity,  and  in  the  case  just  related,  it  is  quite  pos- 


♦  Rev.  Dr.  Bred 


J — vide  M'Kcniicy's  Indian  Sketches. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


361 


5  residcncd 
•d  that  he 
X  the  chief 
led-Jacket 
rephed : — 
isit  the  old 
here  other 
led-Jacket 
:k  his  mes- 
iurne}^  and 
id  come  all 
tor  of  the 
uch  trouble 
I  not  refuse 
le  sarcastic 
le  so  far  to 
liles  of  my 
The  count 
t  accepted 
in  Buffalo. 
1  him,  de- 
er than  the 
re  striking, 
:t.  "But," 
the  world, 
to  be  the 

ernly  upon 
(\nhc  pos- 

tchca. 


sible  that  he  was  more  particular  because  of  the  rank  of 
the  stranger,  and  because  he  was  a  stranger  to  the  country. 
On  one  occasion,  not  many  years  before  his  death,  a  gen- 
tleman from  Albany  on  a  visit  to  Buffalo,  being  desirous 
of  seeing  tlie  chief,  sent  a  message  to  that  effect.  Tlie 
gentleman  was  affluent  in  money,  and  in  words,  the  lat- 
ter flowing  forth  witli  great  rapidity,  and  in  an  inverse 
ratio  to  liis  ideas.  He  had  also  a  habit  of  approacliing 
very  near  to  any  person  with  whom  he  was  conversing, 
and  chattering  with  almost  unapproachable  voluliility. 
On  receiving  the  message,  Red-Jacket  dressed  himself 
with  the  utmost  care,  designing,  as  he  ever  did  wlien 
sober,  to  make  the  most  imposing  impression,  and  came 
over  to  the  village.  Being  introduced  to  the  stranger, 
he  soon  measured  his  intellectual  capacity,  nnd  made  no 
effort  to  suppress  his  disappointment,  which  indeed  was 
sufhciently  disclosed  in  his  features.  After  listening  for 
a  few  moments  to  the  chatter  of  the  gentleman,  Red- 
Jacket,  with  a  look  of  mingled  chagrin  and  contempt, 
approached  close  to  him  and  exclaimed, — "  cha,  clia, 
cha !"  as  rapidly  as  utterance  would  allow.  Then  draw- 
ing himself  to  his  full  height,  he  turned  proudly  upon  his 
heel,  and  walked  away  in  the  direction  of  his  own  domicil, 
"  as  straight  as  an  Indian,"  nor  deigned  to  look  l)chind 
while  in  sight  of  the  tavern.  The  gentleman  with  more 
money  than  brains  was  for  once  lost  in  astonislnnent, 
and  stood  longer  motionless  and  silent  than  he  had  ever 
done  before.* 

A  prominent  trait  in  the  Indian  character  is  vanity. 

•  This  iiiciJunt  was  rululeJ  to  tho  author  by  the  Hon.  Mr.  Mosclcy,  of  BufTulo. 

4C 


I  ^i 


■  I  '! 


!     ».' 


4V. 


i; 

If 

i' 

1  1 

iii 

' ; 

' 

362 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


w 


Mi^ 


in  -i 


s^ 


d 


The  Indians  are  vain  of  their  dress,  of  their  achieve- 
ments, and  of  their  talents,  whenever  marked  by  supe- 
riority ;  and  it  cannot  have  escaped  the  observation  of 
the  reader,  that  this  weakness  was  prominent  in  the  dis- 
position of  Red-Jacket.  The  organ  of  self-esteem,  ac- 
cording to  the  classification  of  the  phrenologists,  was 
beyond  doubt  strongly  developed  upon  his  head.  A 
few  illustrations  of  this  feature  in  his  character  may  not 
be  amiss. 

In  the  earlier  years  of  his  public  life,  as  the  reader  is 
well  aware,  Red-Jacket  was  frequently  engaged  in 
negotiations  with  Timothy  Pickering,  of  whose  vigorous 
intellectual  powers  there  is  no  occasion  to  speak  in  this 
connexion.  Some  time  after  the  diplomatic  intercourse 
between  the  colonel  and  himself  had  ceased,  the  former 
was  called  to  the  State  Department  of  the  federal  go- 
vernment.* On  meeting  Red-Jacket  soon  afterw^ard, 
the  fact  of  this  appointment  was  mentioned  to  him  by 
his  friend  Thomas  Morris.  "  Yes,"  observed  the  chief: 
"  we  began  our  public  career  about  the  same  time.  He 
knew  how  to  read  and  write,  but  I  did  not,  and  there- 
fore he  has  got  ahead  of  me.  But  had  I  possessed  those 
advantages  I  should  have  been  ahead  of  him."+ 

At  the  treaties  held  by  him,  Colonel  Pickering  was 
in  the  practice  of  taking  down  the  speeches  of  the  In- 
dians, from  the  lips  of  the  interpreter,  in  writing,  and  in 

•  The  last  treaty  Lctwcon  the  United  States  and  the  Six  Nations  was  held  at 
Canandaigua,  in  179'1.  Colonel  Pickering  was  appointed  Secretary  of  State  by 
Washington,  in  December,  1795. 

t  Letter  of  Thomas  Morris  to  the  author. 


achieve- 
by  supe- 
rvation  of 
a  the  dis- 
tcem,  ac- 
ists,  was 
bead.  A 
r  may  not 

reader  is 
igaged  in 
3  vigorous 
;ak  in  this 
Intercourse 
the  former 
sderal  go- 
afterward, 
to  him  by 
the  chief: 
ime.     He 
md  the  ra- 
sed those 
t 
:ering  was 
of  the  In- 
ng,  and  in 

19  was  held  at 
iiy  of  State  by 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


363 


order  to  expedite  business,  he  would  sometimes  write 
while  the  orator  in  chief  was  himself  speaking.  On  one 
occasion,  when  Red-Jacket  occupied  the  forum,  obser- 
ving that  the  colonel  continued  writing,  he  abruptly 
came  to  a  pause.  The  colonel  desired  him  to  proceed. 
*'No,"  said  the  orator, — "not while  you  hold  down  your 
head."  "  Why,"  inquired  the  commissioner,  "  can  you 
not  go  on  while  I  write  ?"  "  Because,"  replied  the  chief, 
"  if  you  look  me  in  the  eye  you  will  then  perceive 
whether  T  tell  you  the  truth  or  not."* 

On  another  occasion,  Colonel  Pickering  turned  to 
speak  to  a  third  person  while  Red-Jacket  was  address- 
ing him.  The  chief  instantly  rebuked  him  for  his  inat- 
tention with  great  hauteur,  observing,  with  emphasis, 
"  When  a  Seneca  speaks  he  ought  to  be  listened  to  with 
attention  from  one  extremity  of  this  great  island  to  the 
other."t 

On  returning  from  his  visits  to  the  seat  of  the  federal 
government,  where,  at  different  periods,  he  had  several 
interviews  with  General  Washington,  he  would  magnify 
to  the  other  Indians  the  importance  of  his  reception  by 
the  great  chief.  "I  remember  having  seen  him  on  one 
of  those  occasions,  when,  after  having  seated  the  In- 
dians around  him  in  a  semi-circle,  taking  the  cocked-hat 
that  had  been  presented  to  him  by  General  Knox,  then 
Secretary  of  War,  in  his  hand,  he  went  round  bowing 
to  the  Indians,  as  though  they  were  the  company  at  the 
President's  house,  and  himself  the  President.  He 
would  then  repeat  to  one  and  another  all  the  compli- 


*  Letter  of  Thomas  Morris  to  the  author. 


+  Idem. 


■'(■ 


: 


it 

1 

.        1 
■ 

;' 

w 


I'il' 


364 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


'i 


i! 


ft 


"Jl    ' 

ij>9i  I 


lii. 


J""!!      -, 


I- 


ments  which  he  chose  to  suppose  the  President  had  be- 
stowed upon  him,  and  which  liis  auditors  and  admiring 
people  supposed  had  been  thus  bestowed."* 

Toward  the  close  of  his  life  he  was  present  by  invita- 
tion at  the  launching  of  a  schooner  at  Black  Rock,  bear- 
ing his  name.  He  made  a  short  address  on  the  occa- 
sion, sliowing  the  estimation  in  which  he  held  liis  own 
high  merit.  In  the  course  of  this  speech,  addressing 
himself  directly  to  the  vessel,  he  said  : — 

"  You  have  had  a  great  name  given  to  you, — strive  to  de- 
serve it.  Be  brave  and  daring.  Go  boldly  into  the  great 
lakes,  and  fear  neither  the  swift  winds  nor  the  strong  waves. 
Be  not  frightened  nor  overcome  by  them,  for  it  is  by  resisting 
storms  and  tempests  that  I,  whose  name  you  bear,  obtained 
my  renown.  Let  my  great  example  inspire  you  to  courage 
and  lead  you  to  glory."t 

He  was  not  deficient  in  tact,  and  with  true  Indian  cir- 
cumspection, and  his  own  characteristic  cunning,  was 
careful  to  conceal  his  ignorance  as  to  the  usages  of  so- 
ciety in  the  better  circles  into  which  he  was  occasion- 
ally thrown.  "  Pie  once,  on  his  return  from  Philadel- 
phia, told  me  that  when  there  he  perceived  many  things 
the  meaning  of  which  he  did  not  understand,  but  he 
would  not  make  inquiry  concerning  them  there,  because 
they  would  be  imputed  to  his  ignorance.  He  therefore 
had  determined  on  his  return  to  ask  me.  He  said  that 
when  he  dined  at  General  Washington's,  a  man  stood 
all  the  time  behind  his  chair,  and  would  every  now  and 

♦  Letter  from  Thomas  Morris. 

t  Letter  from  the  Hon.  Albert  H.  Tracy  lu  the  autiior. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


365 


, 


it  had  be- 
ad miring 

by  invita- 
ick,  bear- 
the  occa- 
.  bis  own 
ddressing 


rive  to  de- 
the  great 
mg  waves, 
ly  resisting 
r,  obtained 
to  courage 


ndian  cir- 

ning,  was 

yes  of  so- 

occasion- 

Pbiladel- 

my  tbings 

,  but  he 

because 

therefore 

said  that 

an  stood 

now  and 


then  run  off  with  his  plate,  and  knife  and  fork,  which  he 
would  immediately  replace  by  others.  '  Now,'  said 
Red-Jacket,  '  what  was  this  for  .'"  I  replied  to  him,  that 
he  must  have  observed  on  the  President's  table  a  variety 
of  dishes,  that  each  dish  was  cooked  in  a  different  man- 
ner, and  that  plates,  and  the  knives  and  forks  of  the 
guests,  were  changed  as  often  as  they  were  helped  from 
a  different  dish.  '  Ah,'  said  he,  after  musing  a  mo- 
ment, '  is  that  it  ?'  I  replied  in  the  affirmative.  '  You 
must  then  suppose,'  he  continued,  '  that  the  plates,  and 
knives  and  forks,  retain  the  taste  of  the  cookery  ?'  Yes, 
I  replied.  •  Have  you  then,'  he  added,  *  any  method 
by  which  you  can  change  j'our  palates  every  time  you 
change  your  plates  ;  for  I  should  suppose  tliat  the  taste 
would  remain  on  the  palate  longer  than  on  the  plate  f  I 
replied  that  wc  were  in  the  habit  of  washing  that  away 
by  drinking  wine.  '  Ah,'  said  he,  *I  now  understand  it. 
I  was  persuaded  that  so  general  a  custom  among  you 
must  be  founded  in  reason,  and  I  only  regret  that  when 
I  was  in  Philadelphia  I  did  not  understand  it, — when 
dining  with  General  Washington  and  your  father.  The 
moment  the  man  went  off  with  my  plate,  I  would  have 
drunk  wine  until  he  brought  me  another ;  for  although  I 
am  fond  of  eating,  I  am  more  so  of  drinking."* 

Red-Jacket  could  never  become  reconcile  \^  the 
criminal  law  of  the  white  men,  the  operation  of  \/hich, 
in  many  respects,  he  thought  unequal,  and  consequently 
unjust.  It  has  been  seen  in  a  former  chapter,  on  the 
trial  of  Stiff-armed  George,  indicted  for  murder,  that 

♦  MS.  letter  of  Thomas  Morris  to  the  author. 


"i   •:■. 


i-  1 

!  I 


«  1 


!       .   I 


I     r 


f::: 


/'it  I 


; 


V:p 


ill' I':: 


It' 

ifl 


■V 


\U'X' 


Ml 


1 


l£r 


866 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


\i    \ 


1.!,  IF ,., 


IP 

III 

1 

m 

1 

i 

"■'i' 

3mm 

1 

»ii! 

m 

the  Indians  supposed  that  drunkenness  might  with  pro- 
priety be  pleaded  in  mitigation  of  a  crime,  whereas  the 
white  men  hold  it  to  be  l)ut  one  crime  superadded  to 
another,  and  therefore  aggravating  the  ofience.  In  like 
manner,  he  could  not  understand  the  justice  of  the  law 
that  would  punish  an  offender  by  as  long  an  imprison- 
ment for  stealing  a  trifling  article  as  for  a  larger  one. 
An  incident  in  point  occurred  in  the  county  of  Genesee, 
about  twenty  years  ago,  which  will  at  once  illustrate  his 
views  upon  this  subject,  and  his  humor.  It  happened 
that  an  Indian  was  indicted  at  Batavia,  for  burglary,  in 
breaking  and  entering  the  house  of  Mr.  Ellicott,  agent 
of  the  Holland  Land  Company,  and  stealing  some  tri- 
fling article  of  small  value,  the  punishment  for  which 
was  imprisonment  in  the  state  prison  for  life, — the  crime 
of  petit  larceny  merging  itself  in  the  greater  offence. 
Red-Jacket,  with  other  chiefs,  attended  the  trial  for 
the  purpose  of  rendering  all  the  aid  and  obtaining  all 
the  favor  in  their  power  for  their  brother  in  bonds. 
The  proof  was  clear,  and  a  verdict  of  guilty  followed 
without  hesitation.  When  the  prisoner  was  arraigned 
for  sentence,  and  the  usual  question  propounded,  why 
the  sentence  of  the  law  should  not  be  pronounced, 
Red-Jacket,  who  had  been  watching  the  proceedings 
with  intense  interest,  asked  permission  to  speak  in  his 
behalf.  The  request  being  granted,  he  rose  with  his 
usual  dignity,  and  boldly  questioned  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  court,  and  asserted  the  independence  of  his  na- 
tion. He  contended  that  the  Senecas  were  the  allies, 
not  the  subjects  of  the  whites, — that  his  nation  had  laws 


rii 


with  pro- 
hereas  the 
;radded  to 
.  In  like 
Df  the  law 

imprison- 
larger  one. 
'  Genesee, 
ustrate  his 

happened 
urglary,  in 
cott,  agent 
;  some  tri- 

for  which 
-the  crime 
er  offence, 
e  trial  for 
taining  all 

in  bonds. 
y  followed 

arraigned 
nded,  why 

onounced, 

•oceedhigs 

eak  in  his 
with  his 

urisdiction 

of  his  na- 
ihe  allies, 
had  laws 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


307 


for  the  punishment  uf  theft, — and  that  the  offender  in 
the  present  case  ought  to  be  delivered  up  to  them,  to  l)e 
tried  according  to  the  usages,  and  suffer  according  to  the 
laws  of  his  own  people, — assuring  the  court  that,  in  the 
event  of  his  surrender,  the  culprit  should  be  thus  tried 
and  punished.     His  manner  on  the  occasion  was  par- 
ticularly fine,  even  for  him.     But  his  argument  was  not 
sufficiently  powerful  to  avert  the  sentence,  which  was 
pronounced  in  due  form.     The  orator  was  dissatisfied 
at  the  result.     Estimating  the  measure  of  delinquency 
by  the  pecuniary  loss,  he  could  not  perceive  the  justice 
of  incarcerating  a  man  for  life,  who  had  only  stolen  a 
few  spoons  of  small  value,  when  another  offender,  who 
had  stolen  a  horse,  was  sentenced  to  but  a  few  years 
imprisonment.     After   the   proceedings   were   over,   in 
passing  from  the  court-house  to  the  inn,  in   company 
with  a  group  of  lawyers,  Red-Jacket  discerned  upon 
the  sign  of  a  printing-office  the  arms  of  the  state,  with 
the  emblematical  representation  of  Liberty  and  Justice, 
emblazoned  in  large  figures  and  characters.     The  chief- 
tain  stopped,   and   pointing  to   the   figure  of  Liberty, 
asked  in  broken  English, — "  What — him — callT^  He  was 
answered,  "  Liberty."      "  Ugh  !"  was  the  significant 
and  truly  aboriginal  response.      Then  pointing  to  the 
other  figure,  he  inquired, — "  What — him — call  ?"  He  was 
answered,  "Justice," — to  which  with  a  kindling  eye  he 
instantly  replied,by  asking, — "  Where — him — live — noivT^* 
Captain  Jones,  who  was  so  long  connected  with  the 

*  Related  to  the  author  by  George  Hosmor,  Esq.,  of  Avon,  who  was  present 
at  the  scene  in  the  court-house,  and  also  in  the  street. 


I  li . 


I  ■       i 


I 


'f     I 


"i'     ;:'!l 


'ij 


.■:,\ 


1  ■;; 


!ll:'i 


36S 


LIFE  AND  TIMKS 


|yS' 


■:i  i  t 


Indians  as  a  resident  of  their  country,  and  an  inter- 
preter, had  been  adopted  by  lled-Jackct  as  a  son,  ac- 
cording to  the  customs  of  that  people.     On  a  certain 
occasion,  owing  to  tlie  slanderous  imputations  of  some 
mischief-makers  of  his  nation,  Red-Jacket  entertained  a 
suspicion  that  Jones  was  actuated  by  motives  of  self- 
interest,  and  did  not  regard  the  welfare  of  the  Indians. 
Shortly  after  his  mind  was  thus  poisoned  in  reference  to  his 
friend,  he  met  the  captain  at  tlie  hotel  of  Timothy  Hos- 
mer,  in  Avon.     Jones  advanced  to  greet  the  chief  with 
his  accustomed  cordiality  of  manner,  but  was  received 
with  haughty  distrust  and  coldness.     After  the  lapse  of 
a  few  minutes,  during  which  time  the  questions  of  Jones 
were  answered  in  monosyllables,  the  captain  asked  an 
explanation  of  Red-Jacket  for  his  conduct.     Fixing  his 
searching  glance  upon  him  as  if  reading  the  secrets  of 
his  soul,  Red-Jacket  told  him  of  the  rumor  circulated  in 
reference  to  his  fidelity  to  the  Indians,  and  concluded  by 
saying  with  a  saddened  expression, — "  And  have  you  at 
last  deserted  us  ?"     The  look,  the  tone,  the  attitude  of 
the  orator,  were  so  touching,  so  despairing,  that  Jones, 
though  made  of  stern  materials,  wept  like  a  child,  at  the 
same  time  refuting  the  calumny  in  the  most  energetic 
terms.*     Convinced  that  Jones  was  still  true,  the  chief, 
forgetful  of  the  stoicism  of  his  race,  mingled  his  tears 
with  his,  and  embracing  him  with  the  cordiality  of  old, 


*  This  incident,  and  tho  touching  and  almost  pathetic  iiujuirv  of  Red-Jacket, 
remind  one  of  the  dying  words  which  the  dramatists  hnve  put  into  tlic  mouth  of 
Cipsar,  when  he  discovered  Brutus  among  tho  conspirutora, —  "■  Et  tu  Brule? 
Wilt  thou  stab  Ciflsartoo?"  Or  in  the  words  of  another  autlior; — "And  Brutus 
thou  my  sonnc,  whom  erst  I  loved  best." 


an  inter- 
a  son,  ac- 

a  certain 
IS  of  some 
tertained  a 
res  of  self- 
e  Indians, 
ronce  to  his 
:iotby  Hos- 
cliief  with 
IS  received 
:he  lapse  of 
ns  cf  Jones 
1  aslscd  an 

Fixing  bis 
3  secrets  of 
irculated  in 
ncluded  by- 
have  you  at 

attitude  of 
that  Jones, 

lild,  at  the 


energetic 

;,  the  chief, 

.  his  tears 

ity  of  old, 

of  Red-Jacket, 

ilo  tho  mouth  of 

Et  III  Brute  ? 

'And  Biutu3 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


3G9 


the  reconciled  parties  renewed  old  friendships  over  u 
social  glass.* 

Red-Jacket  did  not  relish  being  trifled  with,  even  in 
playfulness.  At  one  of  his  visits  to  the  house  of  Captain 
Jones,  on  taking  his  scat  at  the  breakfast  table  with  the 
family,  INIrs.  Jones,  knowing  his  extreme  fondness  I'or 
sugar,  mischievously  prepared  iiis  coflee  without  the 
addition  of  that  luxury.  On  discovering  the  cheat,  the 
chief  looked  at  the  Captain  with  an  offended  expression, 
and  thus  rebuked  him: — "My  son!" — stirring  his  cup 
with  energy, — "  do  you  allow  your  squaw  thus  to  trifle 
with  your  father  ?"  Perceiving  at  the  same  time  by  the 
giggling  of  the  children,  that  they  had  entered  into  the 
joke,  he  continued, — "  And  do  you  allow  j-our  children 
to  make  sport  of  their  chief?"  Jones  and  his  wife  there- 
upon apologized,  and  the  latter  made  the  amende  Jwn- 
orablc  by  handing  him  the  sugar-bowl,  which  he  took,  and 
with  half-angry  sarcasm  filled  his  cup  to  the  brim  with 
sugar.  The  litjuid  not  holding  so  large  a  quantity  in  so- 
lution, he  ate  the  whole  with  his  spoon.t 

Red-Jacket  was  not  gratified  with  scenes  of  human 
suffering.  Some  four  or  five  years  before  his  death, 
there  was  an  execution  of  three  ])rothers  at  Buffido, 
named  Thayer.  They  had  been  convicted  of  murdering 
a  man  several  years  before,  named  liane,  the  discovery  of 
whose  remains  caused  much  excitement,  and  altogether 
the  extiaordinary  circumstances  with  which  the  case 
was  invested,  caused  a  great  sensation  in  Western  New- 

*  Related  to  the  author  by  W.  H.  C.  Hosmcr,  of  Avon, 
t  Related  to  Mr.  Hosiner  by  Mra.  Jones,  in  May,  1840. 

47 


1 1  '• 


I   ' 


1       1 1 


H  i 
i'l  ■ 

i;   • 

■ ''  '\ 

}■■': 


!i  ;  " 


Mi 
% 


>! 


\k'l 


370 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


ri 


i) 


York.  Or  the  day  when  the  unhappy  brothers  were  exe- 
cuted, while  tlie  whole  civilized  population  of  that  region, 
of  both  sexes,  was  crowding  the  roads  to  EufFalo  to  be- 
hold the  exit  of  three  of  their  fellow  beings  upon  the  scaf- 
fold, Red-Jacket  was  met  by  Judge  Waldcn,  of  Buflalo, 
wending  his  way  from  the  town  to  his  own  home.  The 
judge  inquired  where  he  was  going,  at  the  same  time 
expressing  his  astonishment  that  he  did  not  join  the  mul- 
titude who  were  pressing  the  other  way  to  see  the  exe- 
cution.    The  answer  of  the  chief  was  brief: — "Fools 

enough  there  already Battle  is  the  place  to  see  men 

die."  This  reply  was  a  severe  rebuke,  as  just  as  sen- 
tentious, of  that  strange  and  discreditable  curiosit}''  un- 
accountably Tirevailing  among  both  sexes  of  all  nations, 
to  witness  the  awful  spectacles  of  public  executions.* 

Although  fond  of  the  pleasures  of  the  table  himself, 
yet  no  man  had  a  more  thorough  contempt  for  tlie  mere 
sensualist  or  gourmand  than  Red- Jacket.  ]\[any  years 
ago,  before  the  Indian  towns  were  broken  up  along  the 
valley  of  the  Genesee,  a  clan  of  the  Senecas  resided  at 
Connawaugus,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  present  town  of 
Avon.  Tlie  chief  of  this  clan  was  a  good  easy  man 
named  Hot-Dread.  He  was  a  hereditary  sachem,  not 
having  risen  by  merit, — was  weak  and  inefficient,  and 
of  gluttonous  habits.  On  a  certain  occasion,  when  Mr. 
Hosmer  was  accompanying  Red-.Jackct  to  an  Indian  coun- 
cil, in  the  course  of  general  conversation  he  inquired 
the  chief's  opinion  of  Hot-Bread.    "  Waugh !"  exclaimed 

"  Related  to  tho  author  by  thn  lady  of  Gcorgo  Hosmur. 


11 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


371 


Red-Jacket :  "  He  has  a  little  place  at  Connawaugus, — 
big  enough  for  him.  Big  man  here,"  (laying  his  left 
hand  upon  his  abdomen,)  "  but  very  small  here,"  bring- 
ing the  palm  of  his  right  hand  with  significant  emphasis 
upon  his  forehead. 

As  to  the  general  manners  of  Red-Jacket,  his  intel- 
lectual character,  his  personal  appearance,  and  tlie 
power  and  studied  graces  of  his  oratory,  a  gentleman 
who  knew  him  intimately  for  almost  half  a  century  has 
written  thus  : — "  When  I  first  knew  Red-Jacket  he  was 
in  his  prime,  being  probably  about  thirty-six  years  of 
age.  He  was  decidedly  the  most  eloquent  man  amongst 
the  Six  Nations.  His  stature  was  rather  above  than 
below  the  middle  size.  He  was  well  made.  His  eyes 
were  fine,  and  expressive  of  the  intellect  of  which  he 
possessed  an  uncommon  portion.  His  address,  particu- 
larly wlicn  he  spoke  in  council,  was  very  fine,  and  al- 
most mnjcstic.  He  was  decidedly  the  most  graceful 
public  speaker  I  ever  heard.  He  was  fluent,  without 
being  too  rapid.  You  could  always  tell  when  he  meant 
to  speak,  from  the  pains  ho  would  take  before  he  arose 
to  arrange  the  silver  ornaments  on  his  arms,  and  the 
graceful  fold  that  he  would  give  to  his  ])lanket.  On 
rising  he  would  first  turn  toward  the  Indians,  and  be- 
speak their  attention  to  what  he  meant  to  say  in  their 
behalf  to  the  commissioner  of  the  United  States.  He 
would  then  turn  toward  the  commissioner,  and  bending 
toward  him  with  a  sliglit  but  dignified  inclination  of  the 
head,  proceed.  1  '  "re  is  much  more  decorum  in  the 
Indian  councils  than  in  any  of  our  public  bodies.    When 


'  lii] 


If 


I       n 


i.t  I 


I'i;!:' 


372 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


any  chief  thinks  thai  the  speaker  has  omitted  or  forgotten 
any  thing  that  ought  to  be  dwelt  upon,  he  places  himself 
quite  near  to  the  speaker,  and  in  the  most  delicate  and 
quiet  manner,  his  voice  not  louder  than  a  whisper, 
prompts  him,  while  the  whole  assembly  in  their  peculiar 
manner  encourage  by  cheering  the  orator."* 

Deprived  as  were  the  Indians  of  the  unspeakable  ad- 
vantages of  a  written  language,  and  depending  alto- 
gether upon  tradition  for  the  preservation  of  both  their 
official  and  unofficial  history,  the  cultivation  of  the 
memory  was  an  object  of  the  first  importance  among 
thcm.t  The  provisions  of  their  treaties,  it  is  well  known, 
were  preserved  with  great  accuracy,  ;ind  for  genera- 
tions, by  means  of  belts,  with  strings  of  wampum, — 
each  string,  being  different,  was  in  fact  a  record  of  some 

*  Letter  to  the  aiithur  fiom  Tliomns  Morris. 

t  There  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  orators  of  the  Six  Nations  were  as  carefal 
in  the  study  of  their  speeches, — those  especially  which  were  to  be  delivered  on 
great  occasions, — as  were  the  orators  of  Greece  and  Rome.  Tlic  author  1ms  been 
informed  l)y  that  veleniu  legislator,  Genend  Ernstus  Hoot,  that  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Senate  of  New-York  when  the  celebrated  letter,  or  speech,  of  Former's- 
Brotlier,  containing  the  passage  which  hos  been  so  much  admired, — "  The  Great 
Spirit  spake  to  the  whirlwind  and  it  was  still,"  was  presented  to  tli.it  body. 
The  (ieneral  says  that  it  struck  him  so  forcibly  at  the  time,  that  he  called  for  a 
second  n-ading,  which  was  had.  Soon  afterward,  in  u  conversation  with  Mr. 
I'arisb,  so  long  the  iiiter|U'eter  of  the  Senecas,  the  General  iiKHiired  of  liim  whe- 
ther it  was  not  the  habit  of  the  interpreters  to  embellish  the  s|)i'eches  of  the  In- 
dian orators.  His  reply  wna  an  G^clamation  of  surpiise  at  the  suggestion.  So 
far  from  it,  Mr.  Parish  averred  that  it  was  altogether  impossible  flir  him  to  impart 
to  the  translations  any  lliing  like  the  force  and  beauty  of  the  originals.  He  also 
stated  that  on  great  occasions,  iho  Indian  orators,  Ued-.facket  and  Farmer's- 
Brother  in  particular,  not  only  studied  their  speeches,  and  coiimcl  thrrn  well,  but 
would  send  to  liini  for  rehearsals,  in  order  llmt  they  might  be  iissined  that  he"  un- 
derstood them  fully,  and  could  tianslate  them  with  aceunicy.  They  were  aliko 
vain  and  ambitious  of  appearing  w«ll  in  thu  reports  of  their  speeches. 


r  forgotten 
es  himself 
ilicate  and 
,  whisper, 
ir  pecuUar 

ikal)le  ad- 
dinn;  alto- 
botli  their 
jn  of  the 
ce  among 
cU  known, 
:)r  genera- 
impum,^ 
rd  of  some 


ivcro  ns  cnrefnl 

o  ilclivcrcd  on 

itlior  lias  been 

wns  a  member 

of  Knrmer's- 

'  The  Great 

t(p  tliiit  body. 

rjilli'd  till-  a 

loii  witli  Mr. 

r  )iim  wlio- 

irs  of  the  In- 

.;t;('slioii.     So 

ini  to  import 

iili<.      He  nl«o 

Fiirmer's* 

irm  well,  but 

il  tliiit  lie  un- 

•s  were  alike 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


373 


particular  article  or  provision  of  a  treaty.  These 
belts  were  deposited  in  their  council  lodges  with  great 
care,  and  the  signification  of  each  particular  string  was 
carefully  repeated  from  father  to  son,  or  from  chief  to 
chief  in  the  succession,  until  thoroughly  fixed  in  the 
memory.  By  this  process,  the  stipulations  of  every 
treaty  were  so  deeply  impressed  upon  the  mind,  that 
by  the  aid  of  the  belt  they  were  at  any  time,  when  oc- 
casion required,  brought  to  fresh  remembrance.  This 
cultivation  of  the  art  of  mnemonics  would  necessarily 
be  carried  to  its  greatest  perfection  by  a  chief  of  Red- 
Jacket's  intellectual  powers  and  ambition,  and  the  fol- 
lowing incident  has  been  preserved  as  an  illustration  of 
his  accuracy.  "  In  a  council  which  was  held  with  the 
Senecas  by  Governor  Tompkins,  of  New- York,  ri,  con- 
test arose  between  that  gentleman  and  Red-Jacket,  as 
to  a  fact  connected  with  a  treaty  of  many  years'  stand- 
ing. The  American  agent  stated  one  thing,  and  the  In- 
dian chief  corrected  him, — insisting  that  the  reverse  of 
his  assertion  was  true.  But  it  was  rejoined  : — '  You 
have  forgotten.  We  have  it  written  down  on  paper.' 
'  The  paper  then  tells  a  lie,'  was  the  confident  answer; 
'I  have  it  written  down  here,'  he  added,  placing  liis 
hand  with  great  dignity  upon  his  brow.  '  You  Yankees 
are  born  with  a  feather  between  your  fingers,  but  your 
paper  does  not  speak  the  truth.  The  Indian  keeps  his 
knowledge  hero, — tliis  is  the  book  the  Great  S[)irit  gave 
them  ;  it  does  not  lie.'  A  reference  was  immediately 
made  to  the  treaty  in  question,  when  lo  tlie  astonish- 
ment of  all  present,  and  the  triumph  of  the  unlettered 


■  ! 


''I 


I        :i     ■! 


fl 


'        111 


hi',"' 


374 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


.M 


is:  m 


ir 


•1* 


statesman,  the  document  confirmed  every  word  he  had 
uttered."* 

Tlaere  are  no  portraits  of  Red-Jacket  extant,  taken  in 
early  hfe,  or  even  when  in  the  prime  of  his  manhood, 
although  many  efforts  were  made  hy  the  artists  of  New- 
York  and  Philadelphia,  and  also  hy  other  gentlemen,  dur- 
ing his  visits  to  those  cities,  to  induce  him  to  sit.  His  re- 
ply to  all  importimities  upon  the  oubject,  for  many  years, 
was,  that  when  Rcd-.Tackct  died,  all  that  appertained  to 
him  should  die  with  him.  He  wished  nothing  to  re- 
main.  But  this  purpose  was  changed  in  the  autumn  of 
1S20,  through  the  interposition  of  the  blacksmith  of  the 
tribe,  and  he  was  induced  to  sit  to  Mr.  Mathies,  a  self- 
taught  artist,  residing  at  Rochester.  Indeed,  his  reluc- 
tance was  readily  overcome  by  an  appeal  to  his  vanity, 
— Mr.  Mathies  having  assured  him  that  his  only  motive 
was  to  obtain  a  likeness  to  be  placed  by  the  side  of  the 
portraits  of  other  great  men  of  the  United  States.  He 
sat  three  times  to  Mathies,  and  the  picture  is  said  to  be 
very  good.  The  Rubicon  having  been  passed,  there 
was  less  difficulty  in  prevailing  upon  him  to  favor  other 
artists,  among  whom  was  the  distinguished  delineator  of 
Indians,  Mr.  George  Catlin,  who  painted  him  twice. 
Henry  Inman  also  made  a  sketch  of  him, — a  head  only, 
— which  is  thought  very  spirited.  But  the  picture  by 
Mr.  Robert  W.  Weir,  taken  in  1S29,  at  the  request  of 
Doctor  John  W.  Francis,  of  New- York,  is  of  far  the 
highest  order  of  merit,  and  has  become  the  standard 
likeness  of  "  the  last  of  the  Seneca  orators."     An  ac- 


M'Kcnncy's  Indian  Diograpliy 


1  he  had 

taken  in 
nanhood, 
of  New- 
men,  dur- 
.    His  re- 
ny  years, 
rtained  to 
ng  to  re- 
lututnn  of 
lith  of  the 
3S,  a  self- 
his  reluc- 
tiis  vanity, 
nly  motive 
lide  of  the 
ates.     He 
said  to  be 
5cd,  there 
ivor  other 
lineator  of 
iin  twice, 
icad  only, 
icture  by 
request  of 
jf  far  the 
standard 
An  ac- 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


375 


quaintance  of  several  j^ears,  and  the  reception  of  some 
trifling  presents  from  Doctor  Francis,  had  enabled  the 
latter  to  induce  a  promise  from  the  old  chief  to  sit,  on 
his  next  visit  to  New- York.     Thi.-^  happened  in  the  year 
last  mentioned ;   when,  with  his  interpreter,  Jemi^on, 
he  very  promptly  repaired  to  the  painting-room  of  ^VFr. 
Weir.      "  For  this  purpose  he  dressed  himself  in  the 
costume  which  he  deemed  most  appropriate  to  his  cha- 
racter, decorated  with   his   brilliant  overcovering   and 
belt,  his  tomahawk  and  Washington  medal.     For  the 
whole  period  of  nearly  two  hours,  on  four  or  'ive  suc- 
cessive days,  he  was  as  punctual  to  the  arrangt  ments  of 
the  artist  as  any  individual  could  be.     He  chose  a  large 
arm-chair  for  his  convenience,  while  his  interpreter,  as 
well  as  himself,  was  occupied,  for  the  most  part,  in  sur- 
veying the  various  objects  which  decorated  the  artist's 
room.     He  had  a  party  of  several  Senecas  with  him, 
who,  adopting  the  horizontal  position,  in  different  parts 
of  the  room,  regaled  themselves  with  the  fumes  of  to- 
bacco to  their  utmost  gratification.     Red-Jacket  occa- 
sionally united  in  this  relaxation  ;  but  was  so  deeply 
absorbed  in  attention  to  the  work  of  the  painter  as  to 
think,  perhaps,  of  no  odier  subject.     At  times  he  mani- 
fested extreme  pleasure,  as  the  outlines  of  the  picture 
were  filled  up.     The  drawing  of  his  costume,  which  he 
seemed  to  prize,    a>   peculiarly  appropriate,  and    the 
distant  view  of  the  falls  of  Niagara, — scenery  at  no  great 
distance  from  his  residence  at  the  reservation, — forced 
him  to  an  indistinct  utterance  of  his  satisfaction.     When 
his  medal  appeared  complete  in  the  picture,  he  ad- 


1; 

i  ■  ■ 

ui 

h 

I  i  '■!■ 

.    1 

■  ti. 

'■i 

m 

i  '        : 

f  !eI9' 

1        :      ' 

■»:j!  M 

f   •    : 

■l  1 

' ,   ■  i' 

1 1 

i     '    : 

'A   l 

r  '  1 . 

h  ■■: 

.Mi. 

,.  i 

>' 

1 '.  ■ 

f'i-^i 


^    I 


H 


li  i!    1 


i 


:  I 


37G 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


't     • 


dressed  his  interpreter,  accompanied  by  striking  ges- 
tures ;  and  when  his  noble  front  was  finished,  he  sprang 
upon  his  feet  with  great  alacrity,  and  seizing  the  artist 
by  the  hand,  exclaimed,  with  great  energy,  "  Good  ! 
good !"  Tlie  painting  being  finished,  ho  parted  with 
Mr.  Weir  with  a  satisfaction  apparently  equal  to  that 
which  he  doubtless,  on  some  occasions,  had  felt,  on 
effecting  an  Indian  treaty.  Red-Jacket  must  have  been 
beyond  his  seventieth  year  when  the  painting  was 
made.  He  exhibited  in  liis  countenance  somewhat  of 
the  traces  of  time  and  trial  on  his  constitution.  Never- 
theless he  was  of  a  tall  and  erect  form,  and  walked  with 
a  firm  gait.  His  characteristics  are  preserved  by  the 
artist  to  admiration  ;  and  his  m.ajestic  front  exhibits  an 
attitude  surpassing  every  other  that  I  have  ever  seen  of 
the  human  skull.  As  a  specimen  for  the  craniologist, 
Red-Jacket  need  not  yield  his  pretensions  to  those  of  the 
most  astute  philosopher.  He  will  long  live  l)y  the  paint- 
ing of  Weir,  the  poetry  of  Halleck,  and  the  fame  of  his 
own  deeds."* 

Red-Jacket  loved  his  native  forests,  and  no  music  was 
to  him  so  sad  as  the  sounds  of  approaching  civilization, 
before  which  they  were  destined  to  fall.  Every  blow  of 
the  woodman's  axe  sent  a  pang  to  his  heart.  The  crash 
of  a  falling  tree  sounded  more  painfully  upon  his  ears 


I. 


*  Letter  from  Doctor  J.  W.  Francis  to  William  Dunhp,  vido  n»nlnp's  History 
of  tlip  Anu-riiaii  Arts  of  Dcsij;!!.  Doctor  Franci.-t  held  many  conversations  with 
Red-Jacket,  some  of  which  wore  upon  the  suliject  of  the  diseases  to  wliich  the 
Indians  were  subject.  Ho  was  quite  descriptive  in  his  statenipnts,  an<l  seemed 
Municiently  qualified  to  make  a  number  of  very  fiiir  distinctions  in  relation  to 
the  subject. — Conversations  of  Dr.  Francis  %eitk  (he  author. 


[king  ges- 
he  sprang 

the  artist 
,  "  Good  ! 
irted  with 
lal  to  that 
d   felt,  on 
have  been 
nting  wa9 
mewhat  of 
1.     Never- 
alked  with 
v^cd  by  the 
exhibits  an 
er  seen  of 
raniokigist, 
hose  of  the 

the  paint- 
ame  of  his 

music  was 
ivilization, 
ry  blow  of 
The  crash 
n  his  ears 

mlnp's  History 

vorsations  with 

to  wliich  the 

ti,  and  9i>emetl 

in  relation  to 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


377 


than  the  jar  of  an  earthquake.  An  anecdote,  illustra- 
tive of  his  feelings  upon  this  subject,  will  complete  the 
present  chapter.  In  the  days  of  his  youth  he  was  wont 
to  join  the  hunters  in  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Genesee 
with  great  enthusiasm.  Game  was  then  plenty,  and 
those  were  indeed  the  finest  hunting  grounds  he  could 
traverse.  Toward  the  close  of  his  liib  he  went  thither 
to  indulge  once  more  in  the  chase,  where  a  forest,  a))pa- 
rently  of  considerable  extent,  5'et  remained.  He  entered 
it,  recognizing  some  of  his  ancient  friends  among  the 
more  venerable  of  the  trees,  and  hoping  j'et  to  find 
abundant  game.  But  he  had  not  proceeded  liir  before 
he  approached  an  "opening,"  and  his  cour?e  was  pre- 
sently impeded  by  a  fence,  within  the  enclosure  of 
which  one  of  the  pale-faces  was  engaged  in  guiding  tlie 
plough !  With  a  heavy  heart  he  turned  in  anodier  di- 
rection, the  forest  seeming  yet  to  be  deep,  and  where  he 
hoped  to  find  a  deer,  as  hx  the  days  when  he  wns  young. 
But  he  had  not  travelled  long  before  another  "  opering" 
broke  upon  his  view,  another  fence  impeded  his  course, 
and  another  cultivated  field  appeared  within.  lie  sat 
down  and  wept.* 

*  IlolateJ  to  tho  author  by  a  Seneca  chief. 


4S 


,1        : 


,i{ 

'  ?! 


il^r 


I     .t. 


,'f"-;? 


iipii 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Disquietude  of  Red-Jacket's  latter  days — Successes  of  the  missionaries — Dis- 
afiection  of  his  tribe — Formally  deposed — His  chagrin  and  journey  to  Wash- 
ington— Interview  with  Colonel  M'Kenney — Returns  to  the  reservation,  pre- 
pared to  make  concessions — Rouses  himself  to  energetic  action — A  great 
council — Another  speech — His  restoration  to  his  former  rank — Sink* 
into  mental  imbecility — Visits  Washington,  New-York,  Boston  and  Albany — 
Exhibits  himself  at  the  museums — Speech  at  Albany,  contrasting  the  charac- 
ters of  Wasliington  and  Jackson — His  consciousness  of  approaching  death, 
and  preparations  therefoi- — Releiitings  toward  the  missionary — thejast  coun- 
cil convoked  by  Red-Jacket  for  purposes  of  conciliation — Last  sickness,  death 
and  funeral — Conduct  of  the  neighboring  infidels — Speculations  and  reflections 
on  the  fate  of  the  Indians — Lord  Erakinc — Opinions  of  Dr.  Ramsay  and  Gene- 
ral Benjamin  Lincoln — Conclusion  of  Red-Jacket — Tablet  to  his  memory. 

The  last  three  years  of  Red-Jacket's  life  afforded  him 
no  season  of  repose.  For  a  long  period  after  he  obtained 
the  ascendancy  over  the  Cornplanter,  and  especially 
after  the  death  of  Farmer's-Brother,  which  event  oc- 
curred shortly  after  the  close  of  the  last  war  between 
England  and  ihe  United  States,  Red-Jacket  had  borne 
almost  undisputed  sway  over  his  people, — those  of  them, 
especially,  whom  he  could  so  far  control  as  to  keep  in  a 
measure  from  what  he  conceived  to  be  the  contamina- 
ting influences  of  Christianity  and  civilization.  But  not- 
withstanding his  vigilance,  his  inflexibility  and  his  en- 
ergy, those  influences  were  too  powerful  for  him  to  re- 
sist.    A  dense  white  population  had  by  this  time  sur- 


ionaries — Dis- 
irney  to  Wash- 
scrvation,  pre- 
tion — A  great 
rank — Sink* 
and  Albany — 
ing  the  charac- 
oacliing  death, 
— thejast  coun- 
sickness,  death 
I  and  reflections 
iisay  and  Gene- 
his  memory. 

forded  him 
le  obtained 
especially 
event  oc- 
r  between 
had  borne 
se  of  them, 
keep  in  a 
ontamina- 
But  not- 
id  his  en- 
him  to  re- 
Is  time  sur- 


LIFE  AND  TIMES,  &c.  379 

* 
rounded  each  of  their  several  reservations.     The  mis- 
sionaries and  school-masters  were  indefalioable  in  their 
efforts,  and  his  people,  on  every  hand,  were  at  length  in 
daily  and  necessary  communication  and  association  with 
the  whites.     Those  who  yet  adhered  to  their  paganism 
were  nevertheless  neglecting  to  celebrate  their  feasts  by 
the  usual  rites,  and  were  in  fact  abandoning  their  grosser 
ceremonies  and  superstitions.*     It  may  readily  be  con- 
ceived that,  to  a  mind  like  Red-Jacket's,  at  once  vigorous 
and  clear,  these   superstitions,  or  at  least  the  uncouth 
observances  by  which  they  were  attended,  had  no  in- 
trinsic value  ;  but  he  looked  upon  them  as  conservative 
in   their' operation, — as   potent    and  effectual    barriers 
against  the  tide  of  innovation  which  he  could  not  but 
perceive,  would  in  the  end  prove  fatal  to  his  own  au- 
thority, and  from  which  he  apprehended  the  most  disas- 
trous consequences  to  his  people.     He  was  deeply  im- 
pressed with  the  conviction  that  the  white  and  red  races 
could  not  exist  together ;  and  it  was  his  anxious  policy 
and  wish  to  keep  up  between  them  every  wall  of  separa- 
tion afforded  by  difference  of  habits,  language,  costume 
and   religion.      Therefore  he  deprecated   and  resisted 
to  his  utmost  ability  every  attempt  at  departure  from  the 
ancient  nationality  of  his  race.     The  arts  of  civilization 
were  gradually  advancing  among  them,  though  in  their 

*  Yet  incredible  as  the  statement  may  appear,  in  the  year  1830  there  was  an 
infidel  white  man  in  a  neighboring  town,  who  went  among  the  Indiiins  at  Catta- 
raugus, convened  a  meeting  of  them,  and  eiuleavored  to  piMsiiade  them  against 
Christianity.  He  even  went  so  far  as  to  endeavor  to  induce  tliem  to  renew  their 
Pagan  dances,  and  other  cast-off  abominations  of  heathenism.  But  the  Indians 
scouted  his  proposals,  and  one  of  them  denounced  him,  not  inaptly,  as  "  the 
Devil's  Minister." — Vide  Missionary  Herald  for  1830. 


..■•i 


\..     ' 


t'!h 


\  .  .1 


i^^' 


\'X 


':  1 

i,:?;.  1 

'ii 

■ji., 

1 

■  I--- 

1'  1 

; 

1 

i;!.  M 


m 

tj  1  i ' 

'    ii    i 

1. 

i  * 


i 


kJ    11  IIP 

Hi  if 


380 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


simplest  state  ;  and  the  indomitable  Indian,  who  looked 
with  scorn  upon  these  things,  and  beheld  their  advance 
with  vexation,  was  doomed  to  see  the  ranks  of  his  Pagan 
followers  almost  daily  thinned  by  the  desertion  both  of 
chiefs  and  people  to  the  Christian  party.*  By  this  latter 
party  he  had  for  3'ears  been  looked  upon  with  no  eye  of 
friendship,  much  as  they  admired  his  talents.  Those 
who  had  truly  imbibed  the  principles  of  Christianity 
could  not  longer  repose  confidence  of  any  kind  in  the 
great  champion  of  Paganism  ;  and  those  who  had  be- 
gun to  taste  the  comforts  of  civilization,  having  incurred 
the  hostility  of  the  orator,  by  showing  a  disposition  to 
throw  off'  the  savage  state,  could  not  of  necessity  remain 
upon  tcims  of  cordiality  with  him.  On  the  contrary, 
by  his  continued  opposition  to  their  moral  and  social  im- 
provement, they  came  to  regard  him  as  an  enemy — or 

*  Tlio  Rev.  Mr.  Harris,  whose  own  particular  station  was  at  the  Seneca 
village — Rod-Jacket's  town — was  likewise  tlio  general  superintendent  of  the 
several  tni.=sioiiS  among  the  Six  Nations,  and  his  labors  for  the  nine  years  of  his 
residence  there  were  Cfjually  unwearied  and  cfTective.  In  the  year  1826  the 
school  at  the  Seneca  village  had  become  so  forward  as  to  be  an  object  of  curiosity 
for  strangers  to  visit.  The  children  had  indeed  made  a  remarkable  degree  of 
prollciency.  At  the  same  date  the  Cattaraugus  mission  had  made  very  en- 
couraging progress.  Not  only  were  the  children  taught  in  the  schools,  but  under 
the  impulse  given  by  the  missionaries,  the  people  were  making  rapid  advances 
in  the  arts  of  husbandi-y — in  the  fencing  and  general  cultivation  of  their  farms. 
They  had  also,  voluntarily,  and  at  their  own  cost,  built  a  church.  In  the  year 
182?  the  Sunday  school  of  the  Seneca  village  was  attended  numerously,  and 
with  great  interest.  In  addition  to  the  children,  aliout  eighty  adults  were  in  at- 
tendanio  upon  these  schools,  receiving  instruction  from  their  own  children,  and  in 
some  instances  from  their  grand-children.  It  was  in  this  year  that  Rcd-.Jacket's 
wife  began  to  manifest  an  interest  in  Christianity,  as  stated  ',in  the  preceding 
chapter ;  visiting  Mr.  Harris  and  acknowledging  the  struggles  of  her  conscience 
in  conforming  to  hen  then  rites.  In  the  year  1828  tho  Indians  of  the  Seneca 
village  built  a  comfortable  church,  contributing  one  thousand  dollars  in  money, 
and  supplying  the  lumber  from  their  own  saw-mill.     There  were  at  that  time 


h  ?,. 


li'. 


OF  RED-JACKET.  38I 

at  least  as  a  foe  to  their  best  interests.  Meantime  his 
habits  had  become  so  extremely  dissipated,  that  by  nil 
the  better  portion  of  his  people  he  was  considered  as  in 
every  respect  morally  worthless.  Under  these  circum- 
stances, the  Christian  parly  determined  upon  his  deposi- 
tion,— a  measure  of  exceedingly  rare  occurrence  among 
the  Indians.  The  council  for  this  purpose  was  held  in 
September,  1S27,  and  the  following  act  of  deposition 
was  drawn  up,  adopted,  and  signed  by  the  chiefs.  It 
was  written  in  llie  Seneca  tongue,  but  translated  into 
English  for  publication,  by  Dr.  Jemison,  himself  a  half- 
breed,  retaining  his  connexion  with  the  Indians  : — 

"  We,  the  chiefs  of  the  Seneca  tribe,  of  the  Six  Nations, 
say  to  you,  Sa-go-ye-wat-ha,  (or  Red-Jacket,)  that  you  have  a 
long  time   disturbed  our  councils ;  that  you  have  procured 

tvvcnty-onc  members  of  tlio  church.  In  1830  the  cluircli  at  Seneca  village  con- 
tained forty-nine  members ;  at  Tuscarora,  fourteen ;  at  Cattaraugus  twenty- 
three.  Tlic  Seneca  school  had  then  fifty  children;  the  Cattaimigus  thirty-live ; 
the  Tuscarora  twenty.  Temperance  societies  had  also  been  formed,  and  the  use 
of  ardent  spirits  totally  abandoned  by  the  members.  A  wliito  farmer  among 
them  having  brought  a  barrel  of  whiskey  upon  tlie  reservation,  for  his  harvest, 
the  Indians  took  possession  tliereof,  and  poured  it  upon  the  ground.  ]\Ir.  Harris 
had  translated  the  Gospel  of  Luke  into  the  Seneca  language,  and  also  a  small 
collection  of  prayers,  and  a  spelling-book,  all  of  which  had  been  printed.  In 
cases  of  church  discipline,  there  were  instances  in  which  otlcnding  members, 
their  feelings  softened,  and  their  savngo  natures  changed  by  the  spi;it  of  the  Gos- 
pel, instead  of  showing  the  implacable  and  revengeful  dispositions  characteristic 
of  their  race,  submitted  to  the  church  authorities  with  the  docility  and  quietness 
inculcated  by  the  principles  of  the  new  religion  they  had  professed.  In  conse- 
quence of  the  imj)rovenient  of  their  moral  and  social  condition  their  numbers, 
instead  of  longer  diminishing,  began  to  increase.  On  tho  three  res  Tvations  of 
Seneca,  Cattaraugus,  and  Alleghany,  by  a  census  taken  by  order  of  the  Secretary 
of  War,  in  1830,  there  had  been  an  increase  to  the  number  of  294  in  three  years. 
There  was  also  a  corresponding  increase  of  flocks  and  herds,  and  an  augmenta- 
tion of  the  means  of  domestic  comfort. — Consult  the  Missionary  Herald,  from 
1821  to  1831. 


•>■  \ 


W'^. 


m 


jii; 


;  1    ■ 


I, 


382 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


•j !  1 


ll'liii* 


some  white  men  to  assist  yoii  in  sonclini^  a  great  number  of 
false  stories  to  our  Father  the  I'rcsitlcnt  of  the  TJnited  States, 
and  induced  oiir  people  to  sign  tliose  falsehf)ods  at  Tonna- 
wanta  as  chiefs  of  our  tribe,  wlicn  you  knew  they  were  not 
chiefs  ;  that  you  have  opposed  the  improvement  of  our  nation, 
and  made  divisions  and  disturbances  among  our  people  ;  that 
you  have  abused  and  insulted  our  great  Father  tlie  President; 
that  you  have  not  regarded  the  rules  which  make  the  Great 
Spirit  love  us,  and  which  make  his  rod  childreu  do  good  to 
each  other ;  that  you  have  a  bad  heart,  because  in  a  time  of 
great  distress,  when  our  peojile  were  starving,  you  took  and 
hid  the  body  of  a  deer  you  had  killed,  Avhen  your  starving 
brothers  should  have  shared  their  jirojiortions  of  it  with  you  ; 
that  the  last  time  our  Father  the  President  was  fighting 
against  the  king  across  the  great  waters,  you  divided  us, — you 
acted  against  our  Father  the  President,  and  his  officers,  and 
advised  with  those  who  were  not  friends  ;  that  you  have  pre- 
vented, and  always  discouraged  our  children  from  going  to 
school,  where  they  could  learn,  and  abused  and  lied  about  our 
people  who  were  willing  to  learn,  and  about  those  who  were 
ofl'ering  to  instruct  them  how  to  woi'ship  the  Great  Spirit  in 
the  manner  Christians  do  ;  that  you  have  always  placed  your- 
self before  them  who  would  be  instructed,  and  have  done  all 
you  could  to  prevent  their  going  to  schools  ;  that  you  have 
taken  goods  to  your  own  use,  which  were  received  as  annui- 
ties, and  which  belonged  to  orphan  children,  and  to  old  peo- 
ple ;  that  for  the  last  ten  years  you  have  often  said  the  com- 
munications of  our  great  Father  to  his  red  children  were 
forgeries  made  up  at  New- York  by  those  who  wanted  to  buy 
our  lands ;  that  you  left  your  wife,  because  she  joined  the 
Christians,  and  worshipped  the  Great  Spirit  as  they  do,  know- 
ing that  she  was  a  good  woman  ;  that  we  have  waited  for 
nearly  ten  years  for  you  to  reform  and  do  better ;  but  are 
now  discouraged,  as  you  declare  you  never  will  receive  in- 
structions from  those  who  wish  to  do  us  good,  as  our  great 
Father  advises,  and  induced  others  to  hold  the  same  language. 


ii 


;  number  of 
lited  States, 
at   Tonna- 
3y  were  not 
"  our  nation, 
leoplo  ;  that 
!  Trcsident; 
3  the  Great 
do  good  to 
1  a  time  of 
Du  took  and 
)ur  starving 
t  with  you ; 
vas   fighting 
cd  us, — you 
officers,  and 
)u  have  pre- 
im  going  to 
;d  about  our 
se  wlio  were 
at  Spirit  in 
placed  your- 
ive  done  all 
lat  you  have 
ed  as  annui- 
to  old  peo- 
d  the  com- 
dren  were 
nted  to  buy 
joined  the 
y  do,  know- 
waited  for 
er ;  but  are 
receive  in- 
s  our  great 
e  language. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


383 


"  We  might  say  a  great  many  ether  things,  which  make  you 
an  enemy  to  the  (Jrcat  Spirit,  and  also  to  your  own  brothers, 
but  we  have  said  enoii'/li,  and  now  renounce  you  aj  a  chief, 
and  from  this  time  you  aro  forbid  to  act  as  such  ; — all  of  our 
nation  will  hereafter  regard  you  us  a  private  man,  and  we  say 
to  them  all,  that  every  one,  who  shall  do  as  you  have  done, 
if  a  chief,  will  in  like  manner  Ik;  disowfied,  and  sot  back 
where  he  started  from  by  his  brethren." 

Declared  at  the  Council-liouso  of  the  Seneca 
nation,  Se])t.  15, 1S27  * 

*  This  rcmaiknble  document  was  signnil  by  the  following  chiefs,  among  whom 
it  will  bo  (ibseived,  wcio  Youi]j,'-lviiig,  Cai)taiii  I'oUuid,  Little  Billy.  Twenty- 
Canoes,  Duxtater,  Two-duns,  liaieloot,  and  others  who  had  been  partisans  of 
lled-Jacket  in  his  bettor  days. 

Ga-yan-([uia-ton,  or  Young  King,  X  ^'^  mark. 
Ha-lon-to-wa-ncn,  or  Captain  Pollard,  X  '">*  mark, 
J isli-ja-ga,  or  Little  Billy,  X  his  mark. 
Ya-un-yau-go,  or  Seneca  White,  X  '"^  mark, 
Ls-hish-har-de,  or  .lames  Stevenson,  X  '''s  mark. 
Go-non-da-gie,  or  Destroy  Town,  X  his  mark. 
}Io-nn-ja-cya,  or  Tall  Peter,  X  hi^  mark. 
Yut-wau-nou-ha,  or  Little  Johnuon,  X  '''*•  mark. 

White  Chief,  X  ''is  mark. 
Ha-sen-nia-wall,  or  White  Seneca,  X  ''•'*  mark. 
Yen-i;au-qua,  or  Doxtater,  X  his  mark, 
Ila-ja-on-quist,  or  Henry  Two-Guns,  X  his  mark. 
Ska-la-ga-onyes,  or  Twenty  Canoes,  X  his  mark. 
Ha-aqul-sau-un,  or  .Tames  Stevenson,  juii.,  X  his  mark. 
0-(iui-ye-sou,  or  Captain  Strong,  X  his  mark. 
Ya-yout-ga-ah,  or  Captani  Thompson,  X  his  mark. 
George  Silverheels,  X  '''*  mark. 
William  Jones,  X  '"*  mark. 
James  Robinson,  X  his  mark. 
Blue-eyes,  X  l»i  mark. 
John  Pierce,  X  '''''*  mark. 
Sa-hc-o-qui-au-don-qui,  or  Little  Beard,  X  Ws  mark. 
Barefoot,  X  ^"'3  mark. 
Lewis  Rainy,  X  his  mark. 
Captain  Jones,  X  his  mark. 


Mi!   '• 

m 


uyuk 

m 


m 
11^ 


WM 


:U 


U 


m 


:i!,:    V 


t-.:  i 


'!  I  ' 


il<i 


384 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


A  melancholy  picture  of  fallen  greatness !  Nor  can  it 
l)e  denied  that  in  many  of  its  lineaments  it  was  drawn 
with  l)ut  too  much  fidelity.  Still,  the  artist  may  have 
been  moved  to  darken  the  portraiture  by  personal  ani- 
mosity or  political  hate.  The  charges  maj^  have  been 
multiplied  in  the  heat  of  party  asperity,  and  magnified 
by  the  bitterness  of  religious  dissension  ;  while  it  may 
well  be  questioned  whether  or  "^  of  the  most  heinous 
items  in  the  declaration  was  not  positively  untrue.  Cer- 
tainly there  is  no  evidence,  of  antecedent  date,  whereon 
to  found  a  charge  of  treachery  to  the  cause  of  the  United 
States,  by  Red-Jacket,  during  the  last  war  with  Eng- 
land. On  the  contrary,  although  not  often  personally 
valiant  in  fight,  yet,  almost  from  the  day  of  the  declara- 
tion of  that  war  by  the  United  States,  until  its  close, 
Red-Jacket  was  active  and  elo(juent  in  their  behalf. 
He  was  no  more  suspected  of  treachery  than  he  was  of 
courage,  by  the  American  oflicers  in  the  service,  and 
his  character  should  be  relieved  from  ihat  imputation. 
Yet  there  were  charges  enough  specified  in  the  decla- 
ration, that  wc7-e  true,  to  warrant  the  procedure. 

But  the  orator  was  not  prepared  to  submit  to  his  offi- 
cial degradation  without  an  effort  to  regain  his  positit)n  ; 
nor  had  the  energy  of  his  mind  been  so  far  impaired  by 
his  intemperance  as  to  render  him  incapable  of  exer- 
tion. Perhaps  he  yet  felt,  occasionally,  both  the  con- 
sciousness of  his  power  and  the  sting  of  his  shame.* 
J3e  it  so  or  not,  he  "  was  greatly  affected  by  this  deci- 
sion, and  made  a  journey  to  Washington  to  lay  his  grids 

•  Tliatclicr'a  Iiitliaii  Diograpliy. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


3S5 


^or  can  it 
as  drawn 
may  have 
;onal  ani- 
lavc  been 
magnified 
le  it  may 
3t  heinous 
•uc.     Ccr- 
;,  whereon 
the  United 
with  Eng- 
personally 
le  declara- 
l  its  close, 
eir  behalf. 
1  he  was  of 
^rvicc,  and 
mputation. 
the  dccla- 
e. 

lo  his  ofil- 
s  position ; 
11  paired  by 
c  of  exer- 
1  the  con- 
is  shame.* 
this  deci- 
y  his  griefs 


before  '  his  Great  Father  the  President.'  His  first  call, 
on  arriving  at  the  seat  of  government,  was  upon  Colonel 
M'Kenney,  the  commissioner  then  in  charpc  of  tlie  In- 
dian Bureau.  That  officer  had  previously  been  informed 
of  all  that  had  occurred  upon  the  subject  among  the 
Senecas,  and  of  the  decision  of  the  council,  and  liiu 
cause  of  it.  After  the  customary  shaking  of  liands,  the 
old  Seneca  thus  opened  his  message: — 'I have  a  talk  li)r 
my  Father.'  '  Tell  him,'  answered  Colonel  ]N['Kcnuey 
to  the  interpreter, — '  I  have  one  for  him.  T  will  make 
it  first,  and  will  then  Usten  to  him.'  The  chief  of  the 
Indian  Bureau  then  proceeded  to  narrate  all  that  liad 
passed  between  the  two  parties,  taking  care  not  to  omit 
even  the  minute  incidents  that  had  combined  to  pro- 
duce the  rupture  between  the  Christian  and  Pagan  par- 
ties, and  the  deposition  of  the  chief  of  the  latter.  lie 
sought  to  convince  Ked-Jackct  that  a  spirit  (jf  l()rbcar- 
ance  on  his  part,  and  the  yielding  to  the  Christian  p.'irly 
of  the  right,  which  he  claimed  for  liimself,  to  believe  as 
he  pleased  on  the  subject  of  the  Christian  religion,  would 
have  prevented  the  mortifying  result  of  his  expulsion  from 
ofhco  and  power.  At  the  conclusion  of  this  talk,  tluring 
which  Red-Jacket  never  took  his  eye  from  the  speaker,  the 
chief  turned  to  the  interpreter,  saying,  with  his  finger 
pointing  in  the  direction  of  his  people, — '  Our  Father 
has  got  a  long  eye  !'  He  then  proceeded  to  vindicate 
himself  and  his  cause,  and  to  pour  out  upon  the  '  black- 
coats'  the  vials  of  his  wrath.  The  result  of  the  confcT- 
cnce  was  an  arrangement  between  tlie  Indian  connnis- 


I  M        i 


r    '     A 


sioner  and  the  chief,  that  tlic  latter  should  return  home, 

tm 

49 

r 

> 

i 

■  ■  '1 

386 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


n 


'i-  'W'4 


4   •* 

!• 

,! 

1 

^^ 

ILi 

Hi 

and  there,  in  a  council  to  be  convened  for  that  purpose, 
express  his  willingness  to  bury  the  hatchet,  and  leave  it 
to  those  who  might  choose  to  be  Christians,  to  adopt  the 
ceremonies  and  creed  of  that  religion ;  whilst  for  him- 
self, and  those  who  thought  like  him,  he  claimed  the 
privilege  to  follow  the  faith  of  his  fathers.* 

On  his  return  to  the  reservation,  Red-Jacket  entered 
upon  the  work  of  retrieving  his  character,  and  wiping 
ofl  the  disgrace,  by  regaining  his  position,  in  earnest, 
and  with  an  energy  becoming  the  meridian  of  his  man- 
hood. "  It  shall  not  be  said  of  me,"  thought  the  vene- 
rable orator,  with  the  gleam  of  a  fiery  soul  in  his  eye, 
"  it  shall  not  be  said  that  Sa-go-ye-wat-ha  lived  in  in- 
significance and  died  in  dishonor.  Am  I  too  feeble  to 
revenge  myself  of  my  enemies  ?  Am  not  I  as  I  have 
been  ?"t  In  a  word  he  aroused  himself  to  a  great  effort, 
and  pains  were  taken  to  procure  a  full  attendance  at  a 
Grand  Council,  to  be  composed  of  all  that  could  be 
gathered  from  the  remaining  of  the  whole  Six  Nations. 
The  cf)imcil  was  holdcn  at  the  upjier  council-house  of 
the  principal  reservation,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Buffalo. 
The  business  for  which  it  was  assembled  having  been 
staled,  and  the  act  of  deposition  by  tlie  Christian  party 
read,  Half-Town,  a  chief  from  the  Cattaraugus  reserva- 
tion, rose  and  declared  that  there  was  but  one  voice  in 
his  section  of  the  nation,  and  that  of  general  indignation 
at  the  (;ontumcly  cast  on  so  great  a  man  as  Red-Jacket. 

*  The  niitlioritj'  fur  this  interview  is  Colonel  M'Kcnncy  himself,  whole  language 
has  in  pnil  been  n(!(i|)toil. 

t  Thatcher's  Indian  Uiography. 


;  purpose, 
d  leave  it 
adopt  the 
;  for  him- 
limed  the 

et  entered 
nd  wiping 
n  earnest, 
f  his  man- 
,  the  vene- 
n  his  eye, 
ved  in  in- 
)  feeble  to 
as  I  have 
^reat  effort, 
idance  at  a 
t  could  be 
ix  Nations, 
cil-house  of 
of  Buffalo, 
iving  been 
stian  party 
us  reserva- 
iie  voice  in 
indignation 
tcd-Jucket. 

wl\uso  language 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


387 


Several  other  chiefs  addressed  the  council  to  the  same 
effect.*  After  these  declarations,  and  a  farther  inter- 
change of  views,  the  condemned  orator  rose  slowly,  as 
if  grieved  and  humiliated,  and  after  a  solemn  pause, 
but  with  somewhat  of  his  ancient  dignity  and  grandeur 
of  manner,  spoke  as  follows : — 

"  My  Buotheus  !  Yoiihave  this  Jay  bcon  corroctly  informed 
of  an  attempt  to  make  me  sit  down  and  throw  oil'  the  authori- 
ty of  a  chief,  by  twenty-six  misguided  chiefs  of  my  nation. 
You  have  heard  the  statements  of  my  associates  in  council  and 
their  explanations  of  the  foolish  charges  brought  against  me. 
I  have  taken  the  legal  and  proper  way  to  meet  those  charges. 
It  is  the  only  way  in  which  I  could  notice  them.  Thi'y  are 
charges  which  I  despise,  and  which  nothing  could  iniluce  mo 
to  notice,  but  the  concern  which  many  respected  chiefs  of  my 
nation  feel  in  the  character  of  their  aged  comrade.  Were  it 
otherwise  I  should  not  be  before  you.  I  would  fold  my  arms, 
and  sit  quietly  under  these  ridiculous  slandei's.  The  Chris- 
tian party  have  not  even  proceeded  legally,  according  to  our 
usages,  to  put  me  down.  Ah !  It  grieves  my  heart  when  I 
look  around  me  and  sec  the  situation  of  my  pei)i)le, — ai  old 
times  united  and  powerful, — now  divided  and  feelile.  I  feel 
sorry  for  my  nation.  When  I  am  gone  to  the  other  world, — 
when  the  Great  Spirit  calls  me  away, — who  among  my  people 
can  take  my  place  1     Many  years  have  I  guided  the  nation." 

•  ****« 

in   the   report  of   these  proceedings  Un3  conne^'ted 
speech  ends  thus  abruptly.      But  it  is  luldud  that  the 

*  Such  is  the  stQti'iiKmt  of  TlmtcliL'r,  ihi'  uiily  iiiilliDrity  tin'  niitliur  lins  dis- 
covered fur  tlui  (ircount  of  this  council.  But  tiie  stiitLMiii'iit  of  lliilf-Towu  must 
certainly  havu  boon  oxiijf^erulod,  inasmuch  (m  O-qui-yo-soii,  or  ('ii|ii;iiii  Strong, 
always  ii  chief  uf  considorniion  umuiig  Uiu  Cattaraugus  Indians,  »us  uno  uf  the 
ligiieri  of  tbo  act  uf  doposiliun. 


i'\ 


,1 

1 


3S8 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


'i'< 


1      ) 


L|l|  I       S. 


chief  proceeded  in  an  artful  manner  to  rehearse  the  his- 
tory of  what  some  have  called  his  "  persecution,"  and 
to  repel  the  various  attacks  that  had  been  made  against 
him.  Recurring  again  to  the  subject  with  which  his 
heart  was  always  full,  viz : — the  evils  befalling  his  peo- 
ple ])y  reason  of  the  countenance  they  were  giving  to 
Christianity,  and  the  disgrace  which  should  .attach  to 
them  for  their  abandonment  of  the  faith  of  their  fathers, 
— ^lie  proceeded  once  more  to  denounce,  with  his  wonted 
vehemence,  the  "  black-coats."  He  said  that  in  a  con- 
ference with  Mr.  Calhoun,  four  years  before,*  he  had 
been  told  that  the  Indians  might  treat  these  black-coats 
just  as  they  thought  proper,  and  the  government  would 
not  interfere.  "I  will  not  consent,"  he  concluded, — sa- 
gaciously identifying  his  disgrace  with  his  opposition  to 
Christianity, — "I  will  not  consent  silently  to  be  trampled 
under  foot.  As  long  as  I  can  raise  my  voice  I  will  op- 
pose the  '  black-coats.'  As  long  as  I  can  stand  in  my 
moccasins  I  will  do  all  I  can  for  my  nation." 

The  result  of  the  council  corresponded  widi  the  pro- 
mises made  to  him  at  Washington,  and  lie  was  restored 
to  his  former  rank  by  a  unanimous  vote.  But  the  ex- 
citement of  the  occasion  being  over,  the  orator  sank 
rfil)idly  into  a  state  of  comparative  imbecilit}^, — a  con- 
dition, both  of  body  and  mind,  prematurely  superin- 
duced by  strong  drink.  Indeed,  the  energies  he  had 
put  forth  in  these  proceedings  resembled  rather  the  un- 

*  Mr.  Ciillioun  was,  ot  tho  timo  referred  to,  Vice-President  of  the  United 
Sfntcs.  Hii  hod  been  Secretary  at  War,  in  which  capacity  he  probably  becamo 
actjuuinted  with  Kcd-Jackct. 


.aJ6 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


3S9 


5c  the  his- 
ion,"  and 
dc  against 
Avhich  his 
ig  his  peo- 
giving  to 
attach  to 
3ir  fathers, 
lis  wonted 
t  in  a  con- 
!,*  he  had 
Dlack-coats 
lent  would 
Lided, — sa- 
position  to 
e  trampled 
3  I  will  op- 
md  in  my 

h  the  pro- 
s  restored 
ut  the  ex- 
rator  saiik 
, — ^a  con- 
y  supcrin- 
es  he  had 
icr  the  un- 


y 


of  tlio  United 
robubly  bocamo 


natural  mental  and  bodily  vigor  often  exhibited  by  dying 
people,  arousing  from  stupor  and  exhaustion  just  before 
the  hour  of  dissolution,  than  the  healthful  intellectual 
action  which  characterized  his  better  days. 

He  nevertheless  visited  the  Atlantic  cities  once  or 
twice  after  his  restoration.  His  last  journey  to  the  city 
of  Washington  was  made  in  the  spring  of  1S29,  soon 
after  the  accession  of  General  Jackson  to  the  office  of 
President.  On  his  return,  he  travelled  eastward  as  far 
as  Boston,  having  become  so  lost  to  the  pride  of  charac- 
ter, as  to  allow  the  keepers  of  the  museums  in  Boston 
and  Albany  to  exhibit  him  for  money.  At  Albany  great 
pains  were  taken  to  collect  a  political  audience  to  meet 
him  at  the  museum,  and  listen  to  a  speech  whicli  he  was 
advertised  to  deliver.  The  legislature  was  in  session, 
a  large  mnjority  of  which  body  was  composed  of  the 
political  friends  of  the  new  President.  It  was  noised 
abroad  that  the  orator  would  speak  of  his  visit  to  the 
President,  and  the  impression  somehow  obtained  cur- 
renc}-,  that  the  savage  orator,  having  been  struck  with 
great  aihniration  of  the  character  and  bearing  of  the 
liero  of  New-Orleans,  would  pronounce  a  panegyrick 
upon  his  character  and  services ;  the  loftiest  strains  of 
forest  eloquence  were  anticipated.  The  audience  was 
large,  and  the  majority  consisted  of  the  most  ardent 
friends  of  the  President,  hurrying  with  impatience  to 
hear  him  extolled  from  the  lips  of  an  orator  so  renowned 
as  the  great  Seneca.  But  he  had  not  completed  half  a 
dozen  sentences  of  his  speech,  before  their  kindling  im- 
patience was  changed  into  disappointment,  which  was 


-; 


>         I'! 


I  '     ' 


■   i  i: 


i\ 


i!ii:!  I'U   >!.¥ 


390 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


in  turn  succeeded  by  chagrin ;  for  instead  of  eulogizing 
the  man  who  was  at  that  time  the  popular  idol  of  the 
nation,  he  spoke  of  his  former  visit  to  General  Washing- 
ton, drew  an  outline  of  his  character,  and  then  instituted 
a  comparison  between  it  and  that  of  General  Jackson, 
greatly  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  latter.  The  applause 
with  which  the  orator  was  greeted  on  his  first  appear- 
ance, was  changed  into  rude  manifestations  of  displea- 
sure, and  the  audience  rapidly  grew  thin  by  the  depar- 
ture of  those  who  had  been  the  most  eager  to  come. 
Justice,  moreover,  requires  the  acknowledgment  that 
the  speech  was  feeble  and  puerile  in  itself,  and  delivered 
without  energy  or  grace.  There  was  not  even  enough 
of  the  orator  left  to  show  that  he  had  ever  had  any  valid 
pretensions  to  that  character.* 

But  his  career  was  now  drawing  rapidly  to  a  close, 
and  he  lived  not  to  behold  the  opening  flowers  of  another 
spring.  The  circumstances  of  his  decease  were  striking. 
"  For  some  months  previous  to  his  death,  time  had  made 
such  fearful  ravages  on  his  constitution  as  to  render  him 
fully  sensible  of  his  approaching  dissolution.  To  that 
event  he  often  adverted,  and  always  in  the  language  of 
philosophic  calmness.  He  visited  successively  all  his 
most  intimate  friends  at  their  cabins,  and  conversed 
with  them  upon  the  condition  of  their  nation,  in  the  most 
impressive  and  afiecting  manner.     He  told  them  that  he 

*  Till!  imtlior  »iionlts  not  at  rniiddtn.  IIo  wtis  presnit  on  tliu  oc.ciision  i-ofnr- 
roil  lc>,  aiij  woU  roniL'iiibi'rs  llio  wholu  sct'iic, — not  fi)iH<'ltiii.i;  tlio  (lisiiiipoiiitinciit 
which  sat  on  the  countenaiico.s  of  thosi-  who  hail  l)ci'n  aiitici|)ating  ii  rich  display 
of  Indian  cloqucncu  in  behalf  of  their  favorite  President. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


391 


I  ; 


suloglzing 
lol  of  the 
Washing- 
instituted 

Jackson, 
;  applause 
3t  appear- 
)f  displea- 
the  depar- 

to  come, 
ment  that 
I  delivered 
en  enough 
L  any  valid 

to  a  close, 

of  another 

re  striking. 

lad  made 

ender  him 

To  that 

nguage  of 

y  all  his 

cf)nvcrsed 

11  the  most 

in  that  he 

oc.ciision  refer- 

li~;ilili()iiitin('iit 

;i  rich  display 


was  passing  away,  and  his  counsels  would  be  heard  no 
more.     He  ran  over  the  history  of  his  people  from  the 
most  remote  period  to  which  his  knowledge  extended, 
and  pointed  out,  as  few  could,  the  wrongs,  the  privations, 
and  the  loss  of  character,  which  almost  of  themselves 
constituted  that  history.     "  I  am  about  to  leave  you," 
he  said,  "  and  when  I  am  gone,  and  my  warnings  shall 
be  no  longer  heard  or  regarded,  the  craft  and  avarice 
of  the  white  man  will  prevail.     Many  winters  have  I 
breasted  the  storm,  but  I  am  an  aged  tree,  and  can  stand 
no  longer.     My  leaves   are   fallen,  my  branches  arc 
withered,  and  I  am  shaken  by  every  breeze.     Soon  my 
aged  trunk  will  be  prostrate,  and  the  foot  of  the  exulting 
foe  of  the  Indian  may  be  placed  upon  it  in  safety ;  for  I 
have  none  who  will  be  able  to  avenge  such  an  indignity. 
Think  not  I  mourn  for  myself.     I  go  to  join  the  spirits  of 
my  fathers,  where  age  cannot  come  ;  but  my  heart  fails 
when  I  think  of  my  people,  who  are  so  soon  to  be  scat- 
tered and  forgotten."     These  several  interviews  were 
all  concluded  with  particular  instructions  respecting  his 
domestic  affairs,  and  his  funeral."     "  Bury  me,"  said  he, 
"  by  the  side  of  my  former  wife  ;  and  let  my  funeral  bo 
according  to  the  customs  of  our  nation.      Let  me  ])e 
dressed  and  equipped  as  my  fathers  were,  that  their 
spirits  may  rejoice  at  my  coming.     Be  sure  that  my 
grave  be  not  made  by  a  white  man ;  let  them  not  pursue 
me  there."* 

But  notwithstanding  these  brave  resolutions  in  anticipa- 
tion of  the  time  of  his  departure,  to  die  as  he  had  Uved 

*  Sketches  of  RcJ-Jackct  in  M'Kcnney's  Indian  Biography. 


I 

m 


m\'  -i 


i 


r 

I 


a ' 


392 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


I 


m  f 


m 


'9 


jw; 


Hi 


i 


and  to  be  buried  a  pagan,  there  is  reason  to  believe  that 
he  relented  not  a  little  in  the  bitterness  of  his  hostility 
toward  the  missionary  and  the  religion  he  taught.  The 
conduct  of  his  wife  toward  him  after  her  conversion  to 
Christianity,  during  the  troubles  of  his  latter  years,  not- 
withstanding his  temporary  desertion  of  her,  had  afforded 
a  beautiful  illustration  of  the  spirit  of  her  new  religion ; 
and  this  circumstance  may  have  softened  and  won  upon 
his  feelings. 

While  the  lamp  of  life  was  flickering  in  its  socket, 
lie  convened  a  general  council  of  the  nation,  embra- 
cing both  the  Christian  and  Pagan  parties,  for  the  ex- 
press purpose  of  exerting  his  influence  to  cause  a  better 
understanding  between  them.  Not  that  he  spoke,  or 
made  any  direct  movements,  in  favor  of  Christianity, 
but  his  desire  was  to  bring  both  parties  to  a  resolution  to 
quarrel  no  more  respecting  their  religion,  leaving  every 
man  to  choose  for  himself,  without  let  or  hindrance,  and 
to  have  his  children  taught  in  whatever  school  he  might 
prefer.*  He  was  taken  mortally  sick  of  cholera  morbus 
during  the  sittings  of  this  council,  but  he  yet  lived  long 
enough  to  see  his  recommendation  adopted  by  mutual 
resolution,  and  he  spoke  of  the  act  with  great  satisfac- 
tion, a  little  previous  to  his  departure.  Two  days  be- 
fore his  last  sickness,  moreover,  he  sent  a  friendly  mes- 
sage to  the  chief  missionary,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Harris,  de- 
siring him  to  come  and  talk  with  him.     But  there  was 

*  At  this  time  the  pngans  were  Bonding  their  cliiklrcn  to  a  Quaker  school, 
wl'ilo  iho  Christian  party  sent  their's  to  the  schools  under  the  supervision  of  Mr. 
Harris. 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


393 


3lieve  that 
s  hostility 
rrht.  The 
ivcrsion  to 
years,  not- 
icl  afforded 
vv  religion ; 
won  upon 

its  socket, 
Dn,  embra- 
for  the  ex- 
ise  a  better 
spol<e,  or 
Ihristianity, 
e  solution  to 
iving  every 
Irance,  and 
)1  he  might 
era  morbus 
lived  long 
l)y  mutual 
at  satisfac- 
o  days  be- 
en dly  mes- 
Ilarris,  de- 
there  was 

Quaker  school, 
iL'i'visioii  of  Mr. 


■ 


an  ecclesiastical  council  sitting  at  the  time,  in  which 
Mr.  Harris  was  engaged  ;  and  in  the  multiplicity  and 
confusion  of  business,  the  message  was  not  received  un- 
til after  his  decease.  The  object  of  the  reiiuest  v"?, 
therefore,  no^  positively  known ;  but  his  wife  believv^a 
his  desire  was  to  express  more  Iriendly  feelings  toward 
the  religious  character  of  the  missionaiy  than  he  had 
previously  manifested.  Ho  remarked  "  that  the  minis- 
ter knew  that  he  had  always  been  his  opposer,  and  now, 
as  by  the  resolution  of  the  council  there  was  a  prospect 
of  seeing  his  people  more  united  than  they  had  been  lor 
years,  he  desired  to  have  some  talk  with  him." 

When  his  last  attack  of  illness  came  upon  him,  he 
said  he  should  not  survive,  and  refused  all  medical 
assistance.  His  request  of  his  wife  was,  that  at  tlie 
moment  of  his  departure  she  should  place  in  his  hand  a 
certain  vial  of  water,  possessing,  as  he  supposed,  a 
charm  sulFiciently  potent  to  keep  away  the  devil,  should 
the  latter  attempt,  as  he  was  not  without  apprehension 
might  be  tlic  fact,  to  take  away  his  soul.  That  vial,  he 
believed,  would  be  all-sufficient  to  secure  his  spirit  an 
unobstructed  flight  to  the  fair  hunting-grounds.  He 
died  on  the  20th  of  January,  1S30,  at  his  residence, 
near  the  church  and  mission-house  at  the  Seneca  vil- 
lage. 


*     The  management  of  his  funeral  was  committed 


*  The  womou  among  the  Indians  roguhito  the  housdiolJ  ati'airs  iiltogctlipr, — 
prescribing  tin;  locations  of  their  cabins,  or  liouses,  ns  the  case  may  be,  and  dic- 
tating removals  at  their  own  pleasure.  By  virtue  of  this  authority,  afti'r  the 
wife  of  Red-Jacket  embraced  Christianity,  she  removed  the  residence  of  her 
lord  to  the  vicinity  of  tlie  church  and  the  house  of  the  missionary,  for  the  conve- 
nience of  public  worship,  and  of  conversations  with  her  spiritual  guide.     Here 

50 


I 


:M    Vj 


il 

! 

-  :ti 

'[ 

■i"  i(' 

i:  !: 

:i 

*.  I 

! 

^ 

i 

1 

jfM 

I,  I 


111'  I    : 


'V, 


ri  ^t% 


394 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


by  himself  to  his  wife's  son-in-law,  William  Jones.  He 
himself  had  not  a  near  kinsman  in  the  world.  His 
friends  of  the  Wolf-clan,  to  which  he  belonged,  deter- 
mined that  his  remains  should  be  carried  to  the  church 
in  which  they  worshipped,  and  buried  in  the  ground  be- 
longing to  the  Christian  party.  The  funeral  wa^  numer- 
ously attended,  not  only  by  his  own  race,  but  by  the 
white  people  who  gathered  in  from  the  adjacent  coun- 
try. Among  the  latter  were  some  of  the  leaders  of  the 
infidel  white  men  who  had  acted  in  concert  with  the  de- 
ceased in  his  oj^position  to  Christianity.  These  hitter 
came  with  high  expectations  of  beholding  a  splendid 
pagan  funeral,  accompanied  by  the  bowlings  of  women, 
and  all  the  barbarous  rites  and  ceremonies  incident  to 
savage  funerals  in  the  days  when  "  darkness  brooded" 
over  the  wilds  of  the  continent.  Great,  therefore,  wp' 
their  disappointment  on  finding  themselves  in  the  train 
of  a  Christian  funeral,  attended  only  by  its  simple  and 
solemn  observances.*     Thus  died  the  renowned  Sa-go- 

was  tlic  mission-school,  in  which  her  grand-children  wore  receiving  gratuitous  in- 
struction in  the  elementary  principles  of  knowledge.  Hero  was  the  chnjiel,  to 
which,  since  the  change  in  her  religious  vie  \  -  she  had  hecomo  very  much  at- 
tached ;  and  hero  were  the  missionary  and  liis  family,  w  hose  instruction  and 
counsels  she  had  for  some  time  been  accustomed  to  regard  as  those  of  friends  to 
her  people. 

*  My  authority  for  the  preceding  account  of  the  last  days  of  Ked-.Tackct's 
life,  including  the  last  council  summoned  by  him,  and  his  funeral,  is  the  Uev.  Mr. 
Harris,  with  whom  I  have  had  repeated  and  full  conversations  u]inn  !he  subject, 
and  whoso  report,  written  at  the  time,  and  published  in  the  Missionary  Herald, 
vol.  xxvi.,  I  have  consulted.  Very  grievous  misrepresentations  in  regard  to  the 
conduct  of  this  gentleman  at  the  death  and  funeral  of  the  chief  were  sent  abroad 
by  the  disappointed  white  pagans,  referred  to  in  the  text,  some  of  which  unfor- 
tunately found  their  way  into  the  sketch  published  in  the  Indian  Biography  of 
Colonel  M'Kcnncy.     I  quote  a  few  passages : — "  There  had  long  been  a  mis- 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


395 


foncs.  He 
,-orl(l.  His 
med,  deter- 
the  church 
ground  be- 
wab  numer- 
but  by  the 
acent  coun- 
idcrs  of  the 
with  the  de- 
rhcsc  hitter 

a  splendid 
3  oi'  women, 
s  incident  to 
ss  brooded" 
ereforc,  w?' 
5  in  the  train 

simple  and 
wned  Sa-go- 

ving  gratuitous  in- 

•as  tlic  chapel,  to 

no  very  much  at- 

iiistruction  and 

lose  of  friends  to 

hi  lled-.Tacket's 
1,  is  tlio  U.'v.  Mr. 
upon  the  subject, 
ssionary  Herald, 
3  in  regard  to  the 
were;  sent  abroad 
o  of  which  imfor- 
lian  Biography  of 
long  been  a  mis- 


ye-wat-lm,  whose  great  talent.s,  and  matchless  giKs  oi" 
oratory,  had  so  long  exerted  such  a  powerful  i,         -tee 
over  the  councils  of  his  nation. 

Some  of  the  speeches  of  Red- Jacket,  as  noted  down 
in  the  closing  conversations  of  his  life,  were  prophetic, 
and  have  already  been  fulfilled.     "  The  craft  and  ava- 
rice of  the  white  man  will  prevail,"  said  he.     And  they 
have   prevailed.      Less   than   nine   years   had   elapsed 
after  his  decease,  when  every  remaining  foot  of  the  an- 
cient inheritance  of  the  Senecas  was  ceded  to  the  white 
man,  in  exchange  for  a  tr'^.ct  of  country  west  of  the  Mis- 
sion:! ry  among  the  Senecas,  who  was  sustained  by  the  party  among  the  natives 
who  hud  procured  the  deposition  and  disgrace  of  Red-.Jaeket.     Tliis  gentleman 
of 'tlu!  dark  dress'  was  of  course  looked  upon  with  high  disfavor  by  Red-Jack(!t, 
who  considered  him  one  of  the  agents  by  whom  his  nation  had  been  distracted." 
Now  it  has  been  seen  by  the  stalcnients  in  the  text,  that  the  chief  was  desirous  of 
dying  in  peace  with  the  missijnary.     Again  it  is  recorded  in  the  same  work,  and 
has  thus  gone  upon  the  recoids  of  history,  that, — "  The  neighboring  missionary, 
with  a  disregard  for  the  feeli'igs  of  the  bereaved,  and  the  injmictiotis  of  thi-  dead, 
for  which  it  is  difficult  to  recount,  assembled  his  party,  took  possession  of  tho 
body,  and  conv(>yed  it  to  their  mcoting-houso.     Tlie  immediate  friends  of  Red- 
Jacket,  amii/.ed  at  tho  Vransaclion,  aliandoned  the  preparations  they  were  making 
for  tho  funeral  rites,  and  followed  the  body  in  silence  to  the  place  of  worship, 
where  a  service  was  performed,  which,  considering  tho  opinions  of  the  deceased, 
was  as  idle  as  it  was  indecorous.      They  were  then  told  from  the  sacred  desk 
that  if  they  had  any  thing  to  say  they  had  now  an  opportunity.     Incredulity  and 
scorn  wero])ictured  on  the  faces  of  tho  Indians,  and  no  reply  was  made,  except 
by  a  chief  called  (ieneral  Blanket,  who  briefly  remarked — "  This  house  was 
built  for  the  white  man  ;  the  friends  of  Re<l-Jacket  cannot  be  heard  in  it."     Not- 
withstanding this  touching  appeal,  and  the  dying  injunctions  of  the  Seneca  chief, 
his  remains  were  taken  to  the  grave  prepared  by  tho  whites,  and  interred. 
Some  of  the  Indians  followed  the  corpse,  but  the  more  immediate  friends  of  the 
deceased  took  a  last  view  of  their  lifeless  chief,  in  tho  sanctuary  of  that  religion 
which  ho  had  always  opposed,  and  hastened  from  a  scene  which  overwhelmed 
them  with  humiliation  and  sorrow."     Now  all  this  is  very  well  told,  and  with 
good  dramatic  ell'oct.     Rut,  like  most  other  dramatic  comi)ositiuns,  it  is  an  entire 
liction 


tl 


I 


i  1 1  i 


Ik  ill 


■'(  m 


f 


M-l 


396 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


souri,  to  which  the  remnant  of  their  people  and  the  Tus- 
caroras  are  to  remove.  When  this  removal  takes  place, 
it  may  be  considered  the  final  dispersion,  if  not  the  ex- 
tinguishment, of  the  once  mighty  confederacy  of  the 
Five  Nations. 

This  confederacy  was  never,  perhaps,— certainly  not 
within  the  knowledge  of  the  white  man, — so  great  in  its 
numerical  strength  as  has  been  supposed,  or  as  might 
be  inferred  from  their  deeds,  and  the  extent  of  their  do- 
minion.    And  yet,  within  that  period,  from  their  superior 
organization,  their  discipline,  and  their  prowess,  their 
name  was   terrible  over  a  large  section  of  the  Ame- 
rican continent.     It  is  within  the  knowledge  of  the  white 
man  that  the  cry  of  "  Mohawk  !"  would  cause  the  In- 
dian to  fly  in  terror.*     The  Delawares  were  conquered 
and  made  tributaries  by  them.     They  drove  the  Algon- 
(juins  and  the  French  before  them,  sacking  Montreal, 
and  raising  their  war-whoop  almost  before  the  gates  of 
Quebec,  while  at  the  west  and  south  their  arms  were 
extended  to  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio,  and  the  confines  of 
Florida.      For  upward  of  a  century  they  formed  a  liv- 
ing barrier  between  the  English  colonies  and  the  French ; 
and  for  more  than  two  centuries  have  they  been  strug- 
gling against  the  gradual  encroachments  of  the  white 
men,  striving  but  in  vain  to  bear  up  against  a  hundred 
successive  storms  of  adversity,  and  maintain  an  inde- 
pendent existence.     During  this  period,  nation  after  na-» 
tion  of  their  hapless  race  has  melted  away  and  disap- 
peared from  the  face  of  the  earth.    Fate  in  her  stern 

*  Coldon's  Six  Nations. 


I  the  Tus- 
kes  place, 
lot  the  ex- 
icy  of  the 

rtainly  not 
great  in  its 
r  as  might 
)f  their  do- 
sir  superior 
wess,  their 
the  Ame- 
)f  the  white 
use  the  In- 
conquered 
i  the  Algon- 
g  Montreal, 
the  gates  of 
•  arms  were 
confines  of 
Drmed  a  liv- 
the  French ; 
been  strug- 
if  the  white 
a  hundred 
n  an  inde- 
on  after  na« 
and  disap- 
n  her  stern 


OF  RED-JACKET.  397 

behests  has  at  length  decreed  that  the  Five  Nations  are 
likewise  lo  be  numbered  among  nations  lost  on  earth. 

The  fate  of  this  people  is  a  subject  for  deep  and  anx- 
ious rellection.     What  is  the  destiny  of  those  who  yet 
remain  ?     Are  they, — any  considerable  portion  of  them, 
at  least, — eventually  to  yield  to  the  influences  and  usages 
of  civilization,  and  thus  to  be  rescued  from  extinction  ? 
Or  is  11  among  the  inscrutable  designs  of  Providence  that 
the  whole  race  shall  disappear  before  the  all-conquering 
Anglo-Saxons  ?    Their  destiny  has  been  the  subject  of  the 
gravest  and  most  interesting  contemplation,  almost  from 
the  day  of  the  discovery  to  the  present.    Philanthropists, 
for  more  than  two  hundred  years,  have  been  endeavor- 
ing to  guide  them   into  the  paths  of  civilization,  and 
Christians  to  win  them  from  the  gloom  of  paganism  to 
the  brighter  hopes  and  promises  of  the  gospel.     But  the 
efforts  of  both  have  been  exerted  to  very  little  purpose. 
Small  numbers,  at  various  periods,  have  been  prevailed 
upon  to  yield  a  faint  assent  to  Christianity,  but  sound 
conversions,  illustrated  by  subsequent  lives  of  virtue  and 
temperance,  pureness  of  living,  and  truth,  have  been 
rare,  while  even  among  supposed  converts  the  opinion 
has  often  been  expressed  by  themselves,  that  Christiani- 
ty was  a  better  religion  for  the  white  people  than  for 
them ;  and  their  reformation,  in  but  too  many  instances, 
has  only  been  attended  by  the  loss  of  many  of  their 
savage  virtues,  in  exchange  for  which  they  have  con- 
tracted the  vices  peculiar  to  civilized  society.*    Upon 
civilization  the   unsophisticated    Indians  have    looked 

*  rresident  Kirkland — Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  vol.  iv. 


!   .« 


.•p 


!    I.' 


If: 


I  I, 


y 


398 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


•"1 , 


I 


.  i  ' 
■i  ' 


11  ^ 


■Ml 

r 


l;M 


with  contempt.  But  as  they  have  been  brought  into 
close  contact  with  civihzed  lite,  many  of  them  have 
been  constrained  to  acknowledge  the  superior  dignity 
and  happiness  of  such  a  state,  and  to  wish  tliat  their 
children  might  participate  in  its  benefits,  as  the  only 
means  of  saving  them  I'rom  extinction.  "  If  they  some- 
times reflect  on  us  for  being  cowardly,  effbminate,  and 
tame  spirited,  tliey  do  it  not  so  much  from  a  real  con- 
tempt of  us,  as  to  relieve  that  uneasy  sense  of  in- 
feriority which  mortifies  and  oppresses  them.  Still, 
when  they  have  acknowledged  the  importance  of  indus- 
try and  the  arts  to  their  happiness,  respectalnlity,  and 
even  existence,  they  will  add, — '■Indiaiis  can't  ivork.^ 
They  feel  last  boimd  by  the  power  of  their  savage 
habits,  and  do  not  summon  resolution  to  practice  ac- 
cording to  their  ccmviction."* 

But  Red-Jacket,  as  the  reader  has  observed  in  the 
progress  of  the  present  work,  during  the  latter  thirty 
5'ears  of  his  life,  would  mrdvc  no  concessions  in  favor, 
either  of  Christianity  or  civilization  ;  and  for  the  same 
reasons  that  operated  upon  his  mind,  the  larger  number 
of  his  race  have  entertained  the  same  opinions.  These 
reasons  have  already  been  adverted  to  more  than  once 
or  twice.  They  were  slow  to  comprehend  the  principles 
of  Christianity,  and  could  not  well  discriminate  between 
the  real  and  nominal  Christian.  Among  the  border-men, 
with  whom  they  were  first  and  most  frc(|iiently  brought 
into  connnunication  and  contact,  they  were  sure  to  find 
more  of  the  latter  class  than  of  the  Ibrmcr.     Nor  did 

*  I'lfsifJfiit  Kirkhiiiil — Mosum-huKi'tl-^  lli-iniicnl  <  'ullri  iioiij 


ught  into 
em  have 
)r  dignity 
:hat  their 
the  only 
ley  some- 
inate,  and 
real  con- 
so  of  in- 
m.     Still, 
of  indus- 
nlity,  and 
rCt  work.'' 
;ir  savage 
actice  ac- 
red in  the 
tter  thirty 
5  in  favor, 
the  same 
r  number 
These 
than  once 
principles 
c  between 
irdcr-men, 
y  brought 
ire  to  find 
Nor  did 


OF  RED-.IACKF.T. 


309 


it  commend  tlic  new  religion  to  their  untutored  minds, 
that  they  constantly  saw  these  professors  of  that  religion 
practising  every  little  art,  and  vatchiug  every  opportu- 
nity to  overreach  them,  and  deprive  them  of  their  pro- 
perty, especially  of  their  lands.  They  were  e;irly 
alarmed  at  the  rnpncity  of  tlie  whites  to  ol)tiiin  their 
lands,  to  which,  always  when  sober,  they  clung  with 
great  tenacity.  "  I  have  heard  a  naked  savage,"  says 
the  eloquent  Lord  Erskinc,  "  in  the  indiguimt  ciiarac- 
ter  of  a  prince  surrounded  by  his  subjects,  addressing 
the  governor  of  a  Britisli  colon}',  holding  a  hundlc  of 
sticks  in  his  hand,  as  the  notes  of  his  ludettcred  elo- 
quence, demand,  being  encroached  upon  liy  the  restless 
foot  of  Englisli  adventurers: — 'Who  is  it  that  causes 
'  this  river  to  rise  in  the  liigh  mountains,  and  to  emjjty 

•  itself  into  the  ocean  ?  Who  is  it  that  causes  to  blow  the 

*  loud  winds  of  winter,  and  lh;it  calms  them   again   in 

♦  summer  ?     Who  is  it  that  renrs  up  tlie  shade  of  those 

*  lofty  forests,  iuid  blasts  them  with  the  cpiick  lightning 
at  his  pleasure  ?  The  same  Being  who  gave  to  you 
a  country  on  the  other  side  of  the  waters,  gave  ours 
to  us  :  and  by  this  title  we  will  defend  it,'   snid   the 

warrior,  throwing  his  tomahawk  u[)()ii  th(^  ground,  and 
raising  the  war-sound  othis  nation.  These  arc  the  feel- 
ings of  subjugated  mimaU  over  thegiolie."*  Especially 
have  they  ever  been  the  feelings  of  the  Americiin  Indians  ; 
and  having  for  two  centuries  seen  tlie  "  knavery  and 


*  Sppcch  of  Lord  llrslunc,  in  tlio  grciit  lil)(*l  onso  of  Stucliduii'.  Liinl  1'..  liml 
•crvod  in  America,  in  uurly  life,  in  tliu  Uritisli  miny,  und  was  present  at  an  Indian 
council. 


T 

i 

r 

1 
1 

i!^ 

1 . 

% 

^;l^^ 

:.|.'-, 

'\ 

1                    , 

1 

1 

■ 

1 

■■'1 

■  i 

! 

tl  i 


B  I , 


i;-.i 


1 1 


400 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


Strength  of  civilization"  exerted  "by  alternate  stratagem 
and  force,"  to  dispossess  them  of  their  proud  inheritance, 
thus  derived,  is  it  a  subject  of  wonder  that  they  alike 
spurned  the  religion  and  civilization  from  whose  ad- 
vances they  liad  so  much  to  apprehend  ? 

It  was  the  opinion  of  Dr.  Ramsay,  the  historian,  ex- 
pressed in  a  letter  to  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society, 
so  long  ago  as  the  year  179o,  that  the  American  Indians 
arc  a  people  who  cannot  be  civilized.  The  doctor  had 
once  regarded  the  belief  as  unphilosophical ;  but  rellec- 
tion  and  experience  had  brought  him  to  the  opinion  tliat 
to  tame  wolves  would  be  no  more  impracticable  thin  to 
civilize  the  Indians.  Hence  he  had  almost  adopted  the 
melancholy  belief  that  they  would  ere  long  cense  to  be 
a  people.  He  gave  nevertheless  but  few  reasons  in  sup- 
port of  his  gloomy  anticipations  of  their  destiny  i  and 
the  subject  was  followed  by  a  more  extended  discussion, 
in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year,  by  General  Benjiunin 
Lincoln,  who  had  enjoyed  large  opportunities  of  studying 
the  Indian  character.  General  Lincoln  concurred  fully 
in  the  opinion  of  the  doctor,  that  they  would  never  1)C 
civilized  ;  but  he  did  not  anticipate  their  entire  extinction. 
Among  the  causes  of  their  decrease  of  numbers,  he 
enumenited  the  change  in  their  habits  of  dressing,  by 
substituting  linens  and  calicos  in  the  place  of  their  na- 
tund  and  ancient  covering,  the  furs,  retaining,  in  other 
respects,  their  partiality  for  the  savage  life,  and  exposed 
to  all  ilie  suilcrings  from  the  inclement  seasons,  and 
rigorous  winters  of  the  high  northern  latitudes  under 
which  ihey  live.    A  knowledge  of  lire-arms  has  led  them 


'3 


I     1 


\ 


itratagcm 
lerltance, 
bey  alike 
/hose  ad- 

orian,  ex- 
il  Society, 
in  Indians 
octor  had 
but  rcllec- 
»inion  that 
ble  than  to 
Lloptcd  the 
ease  to  be 
3ns  in  sup- 
stiny  i  and 
discussion, 
.  Benjiunin 
3i'  studying 
urrcd  fully 
d  never  be 
!  extinction, 
nubcrs,  he 
rcssing,  by 
of  their  na- 
n,  in  odicr 
nd  exposed 
isous,  and 
idcs  under 
lb  led  ihem 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


401 


to  measures  producin-^  the  worst  effects,  and  serving  to 
diminish  their  numbers.  The  game  upon  which  they 
previously  subsisted,  and  the  skins  of  which  served  them 
for  clothes,  was  afterward  wantonly  destroyed ;  while 
the  possession  of  fire-arms,  and  other  implements  of  war 
composed  of  metal,  tired  their  ambition,  and  enkindled 
a  hope  in  their  breasts,  that  with  these  weapons  they 
would  be  enabled  to  avenge  all  their  wrontrs  and  recover 
their  country.  Stimulated  by  these  delusive  hopes,  they 
have  rushed  heedlessly  into  wars  which  have  greatly  re- 
duced their  numbers.  Another  cause  of  this  diminution 
of  their  numljers  is  found  in  the  reluctance  of  their 
women  to  bear  children,  prompting  thcui  to  employ 
means  to  prevent  an  increase  of  maternal  responsibili- 
ties. Indinn  mothers  have  been  greatly  afleeted  by  the 
loss  of  their  sons  in  their  frequent  wars,  until,  to  ([uote 
their  own  expressive  words,  "  thaj  have  become  tired  of 
hearing  children  to  be  slain  in  war.''''  Other  causes  of  the 
decrease  of  this  people  are  adduced  by  General  Li.icoln, 
and  he  accounts  for  their  reluctance  to  become  either 
civilized  or  christianized,  upon  the  principles  already 
explained.* 

On  the  (question  of  the  ultimate  destiny  of  the  race, 
the  communication  referred  to  concludes  as  follows: — 
"  Should  the  Indian  nations  in  general  never  become 
civilized,  wc  may,  I  think,  point  to  the  consequences. 
Nature  forbids  civilized  and  uncivilized  people  possess- 
ing the  same  territory  ;  for  the  means  pursued  by  the 
civiUzcd  to  obtain  a  support  counteract  tlie  wishes  and 

*LoUcr  to  Dr.  Ilumsay — Mass.  Historical  Cullccliunt. 

51 


n 

ii-' 

'1' 

r 

'l' 

11 


t'' 


!    . 
t      I 


\  4 


402 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


!'i.|;8  . 


'  M 


M' 


% 


designs  of  the  savage.  While  the  former  are  busily 
employed  in  removing  from  the  earth  its  natural  growth, 
as  necessary  to  the  establishing  themselves  as  husband- 
men, the  latter  are  wishing  to  increase  that  natural  shelter 
and  hiding  place  for  the  beasts  of  the  forest ;  for  without 
a  covering  they  cannot  be  retained,  but  will  seek  new 
feeding-grounds.  Consequently  the  savage  must  retire 
to  those  lands  where  he  can  with  more  ease  obtain  a 
supply.  Yet  their  new  position  cannot  long  avail  them  ; 
for  civilization  and  cultivation  will  make  rapid  strides, 
and  advance  fast  toward  them  ;  and  they  must  neces- 
sarily make  way  for  such  approaches,  by  following  the 
game,  which  takes  the  first  alarm,  or  leave  their  present 
pursuits  and  modes  of  living,  and  oppose  the  cultivator 
by  cultivation.  The  savage  arm  is  too  feeble,  in  any 
other  way,  to  counteract  the  progress  of  their  civilized 
neighbors  ;  but  it  is  hardly  to  be  expected,  considering 
their  attachments  and  prejudices,  that  they  will  see  the 
importance  of  this  measure  in  time  for  self-preservation  ; 
but  will  continue  retiring  before  the  enlightened  husl:)and- 
man,  until  they  shall  meet  those  regions  of  the  north 
into  which  he  cannot  pursue  them.  There,  probably, 
they  will  be  set  down  and  left,  in  the  undisturbed  pos- 
session of  a  country  unenvied  by  any ;  as  the  last  resort 
of  a  people,  who,  having  sacrificed  every  thing  to  their 
love  of  ease,  were  at  length  compelled,  by  the  effects  of 
their  obstinacy  and  disobedience,  to  give  up  all  hope  of 
ever  regaining  those  hospitable  tracts  of  country  from 
which  they  had  retired,  and  which  ihey  had  surrendered 
to  others ;  while  nature  had  furnished  them  with  the 


re  busily 
a.1  growth, 
husband- 
ral  shelter 
or  without 
.  seek  new 
nust  retire 
e  obtain  a 
vail  them ; 
nd  strides, 
lust  neces- 
llowing  the 
leir  present 
e  cultivator 
ible,  in  any 
;ir  civilized 
considering 
will  see  the 
reservation ; 
ed  husl)and- 
thc  north 
I,  probably, 
;turbed  pos- 
le  last  resort 
ing  to  their 
10  effects  of 
all  hope  of 
;ountry  from 
surrendered 
iui  with  the 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


403 


power  of  having  forever  participated  in  the  enjoyment 
of  them.  Being  thus  shut  up  in  a  country  where  sub- 
sistence can  only  be  obtained  by  the  chase,  they  will 
probably  continue  as  a  people  until  time  shall  be  no 


more.' 


Such,  with  but  a  trifling  change  of  phraseology,  were 
the  conclusions  to  which  a  gentleman  of  intelligence, 
sound  judgment,  and  deep  study  of  the  Indian  charac- 
ter, arrived  more  than  forty-five  years  ago.     Experience 
has  in  a  great  measure  tested  the  correctness  of  his 
views,  although  as  yet  there  have  been  no  indications 
of  a  tendency  on  the  part  of  the  Indians  to  escape  con- 
tact with  the  white  man  by  seeking  a  refuge  in  the  hy- 
perborean regions.     They  could,  doubtless,  live  there, 
as  do  the  Esquimaux ;  but  their  attachment  to  the  places 
of  their  birth,  and   their  desire   to  linger  around   the 
graves  of  their  ancestors,  induce  them  to  cling  to  their 
native  soil  with  death-like  tenacity.   And  akhougli  a  close 
proximity  to  the  whites  has  almost  invariably  caused  a 
rapid  diminution  of  their  numbers,  yet  nation  after  na- 
tion of  this  extraordinary  and  in  many  respects  noble 
people  has  melted  away,  and  disappeared,  or  been  re- 
duced to  a  few  degenerate  relics,  who  at  last  relinquish 
their  distinctive  character  by  mingling  with  the  fragments 
of  other  nations  also  in  a  rapid  decline,  but  perhaps  not 
quite  so  near  positive  extinction  as  themselves.     This 
is  a  melancholy  subject  of  contemplation,  but  it  seems 
thus  to  have  been  decreed  by  an  inscrutable  Provi- 
dence ;  and  the  flight  of  the  feeble  and  broken  remnant 
of  the  once  proud  and  haughty  Aquanuschioxi  before 


'ililii 

'    5  f 

'    pi 

\\l 


i 


!v  '■) 


■   ■ 


404 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


the  march  of  civihzation,  is  but  another  and  yet  stronger 
illustration  of  the  sad  conclusion,  that  their  destiny  is  to 

be, EXTINCTION  ! 

The  orator,  whose  hfe  has  been  traced  in  the  pre- 
ceding pages,  and  who,  with  all  his  faults,  was  a  man  of 
great  talents  and  sagacity,  foresaw  the  event  almost 
with  a  prophet's  vision,  and  labored  for  many  years 
with  all  the  energies  of  his  soul  to  avert,  or  at  least  to 
put  off  the  evil  day.  It  was  kindly  ordered  that  he 
should  not,  with  his  natural  vision,  behold  the  extirpa- 
tion of  his  people  from  the  beautiful  country  so  long 
their  own,  and  he  was  gathered  to  his  fathers  in  peace. 
For  nine  years  after  his  decease,  neither  a  stone  nor 
other  memorial  marked  his  resting-place.  But  during 
the  summer  of  1839,  while  on  a  visit  to  B'lffiilo,  Henry 
Placide,  Esq.,  a  gentleman  of  the  histrionic  profession, 
determined  that  the  place  of  his  sepulture  should  no 
longer  remain  undistinguished.  A  subscription  was  set 
on  foot  under  his  auspices,  and  the  result  was  the  erec- 
tion over  his  grave  of  a  handsome  marble  slab,  bearing 
the  following  inscription  : — 


SA-GO-YE-WAT-HA, 

(HE-KEEFS-THEM- AWAKE,) 

RED-JACKET, 

CHIEF  OF  THE 
WOIiF  TRIBS   OF  THE   SENECAS, 

THE    FRIEND   ANU   PKOTECTUK   UF   HIS  PEOPLE, 

Died  Jan'y  iJO,  law, 

Aged  78  years. 


t  stronger 
3tiny  is  to 

the  pre- 
,  a  man  of 
nt  almost 
my  years 
Lt  least  to 
d  that  he 
c  extirpa- 
y  so  long 
3  in  peace. 

stone  nor 
Jut  during 
lo,  Henry 
profession, 

should  no 
on  was  set 

s  the  erec- 
ib,  bearing 


OF  RED-JACKET. 


405 


■OPLE, 


The  grave  is  surrounded  by  a  neat  picket  fence  ;  and 
it  was  noted  as  an  interesting  coincidence,  that  during 
the  visit  of  the  gentlemen  to  superintend  the  erection  of 
the  tablet,  a  funeral  feast,  as  is  the  custom  of  the  Indians, 
was  in  progress,  at  an  adjoining  wigwam,  in  commemo- 
ration of  the  death  of  Red-Jacket's  daughter,  which  oc- 
curred five  months  before,  and  during  the  ceremony  his 
aged  widow  was  distributing  the  moccasins,  clothes, 
trinkets,  etc.,  of  the  deceased. 

Charlevoix  and  Golden,  among  the  earlier  Indian  histo- 
rians, and  De  Witt  Clinton  among  the  modern,  have  insti- 
tuted comparisons  between  the  ancient  league  of  the  Five 
Nations  and  the  Romans.  The  coincidence  was  in  some 
respects  remarkable,  especially  in  their  foreign  policy. 
The  counsellors  of  the  Five  Nations  had  never  heard  of 
the  Romans;  and  yet  their  ambition  of  foreign  con- 
quests, and  their  policy  of  planting  military  colonies  in 
the  countries  they  had  subjugated,  were  the  same.  Other 
resemblances  might  be  indicated  were  it  necessary  to 
the  present  purpose.  With  as  much  justice  as  Rienzi 
has  been  styled  the  last  of  the  Romans,  may  Red- 
Jacket  be  denominated  "  the  last  of  the  Senecas." 
Though  in  the  main  the  characters  were  widely  dis- 
similar, and  the  one  acted  in  great  matters  and  the 
other  in  comparatively  small,  yet  there  is  in  one  respect 
a  striking  coincidence  :  "  Rienzi  was  more  energetic  in 
speech  and  council  than  in  action,  and  failed  in  courage 
and  presence  of  mind  in  great  emergencies." 


^1 :  i 


i 


\'  I 


1 

if 

1 

i- 

-I 

K 

f    ^'i' 

p 


!i.l  ;* 


N'l,!' 


m 


\ :  :^! 


HO-NA-YE-WUS, 


OR 


PARMER'S-BROTHER. 


,!■  '^!' 


,*!■  Ill'l 


i,  I   ^ 


*     ,   '■• 


FARMER'S-BROTHER. 


Amoxg  the  Indian  contemporaries  of  Red-Jacket,  the 
reader  of  the  foregoing  pages  will  have  frequently 
observed  the  name  of  FAnMEii's-BROTHEii.  It  was  an 
arbitrary  name, — his  real  one,  in  his  own  language,  be- 
ing Ho-NA-YE-wus.  Beyond  all  douljt  he  was  one  of 
the  noblest  of  his  race, — in  both  intellect  and  eloquence 
fully  equal  to  Red-Jacket,  and  infinitely  above  him  in 
courage  and  all  the  moral  (qualities  of  the  man.  But  it 
seems  not  to  have  been  his  ambition  to  shine  in  council, 
as  he  might  have  done, — talcing  the  few  specimens  of 
his  eloquence  that  have  been  preserved,  and  the  opin- 
ions of  his  contemporaries,  as  the  criterion  of  judgment. 
On  the  contrary  he  was  a  warrior,  in  principle  and  prac- 
tice,— spurning  agriculture,  and  every  other  civilized  art, 
with  the  contempt  of  Red-Jacket  himself. 

The  time  of  his  birth  is  uncertain  ;  but  as  he  was  be- 
lieved to  have  been  between  eighty  and  ninety  years  old 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  the  autumn  of  1814,  he  was 
probably  born  about  the  year  1730.  It  has  been  s^ated 
that  he  was  in  the  bloody  battle  in  which  General  Bryd- 
dock,  with  fool-hardiness,  lost  his  life,  and  nearly  the 
whole  of  his  army,  in  July,  1755.  On  the  score  of  age 
he  may  very  well  have  been  there ;  but  the  fact  is  not 
certain. 

52 


I' 


W   i 


410 


FARMER'S-BROTIIER. 


'    <3 


'13        ,! 


I  I  I 


if" 


if  11 


The  first  authentic  mention  of  his  nnmo,  ns  a  war- 
rjor,  is  found  in  connexion  with  tlie  horrible  massacre 
of  the  "  Devil's  Hole,"  in  the  ncigliborhood  of  Ningara 
Falls, — an  event  that  occurred  in  the  year  17()2,  or 
1703.  Like  their  brethren,  the  other  nations  of  the  Iro- 
quois confederacy,  the  Scnecas  had  in  gcnend  been  the 
faithful  allies  of  the  Enghsh  against  the  French,  down 
to  the  war  wijich  ended  in  tlie  conquest  of  Canada  by 
the  former.  The  Senecas  were  formerly  cngngcd  it)r  a 
scries  of  years  in  a  war  with  the  French  and  Adiron- 
dacks,  during  which  the  forces  of  the  latter  had  invaded 
their  country  several  times,  and  laid  waste  some  of  their 
towns  and  villages.  At  length  a  peace  was  concluded, 
and  the  French  succeeded  in  detaching  the  Senecas  from 
the  English,  and  converting  tliem  into  allies.  Hence, 
in  the  war  of  175o — 1703,  they  tooks  ides  with  the 
former,  although  it  is  said  they  regretted  this  connexion, 
and  renewed  their  alliance  with  the  English  before  the 
close  of  tliat  contest. 

The  French  fort  at  Niagara  fell  before  the  nrms  of  Sir 
William  Johnson,  in  the  summer  of  1759,  as  also  did  the 
smaller  fortress  at  Schlosser,  situated  about  two  miles 
above  the  great  cataract.  These  two  posts  were  of 
great  importance  to  the  English,  for  the  protection  of  the 
means  of  communication  with  the  posts  above,  on  the 
upper  lakes.  In  17G0  a  contract  was  made  between 
Sir  William  Johnson  and  a  Mr.  Stedman,  to  construct  a 
portage  road  from  what  is  now  the  Lewiston  Landing  to 
Fort  Schlosser,  a  distance  of  eight  miles,  in  order  to  fa- 
cilitate the  transportation  from  one  place  to  the  other. 
In  conformity  with  this  agreement,  on  the  20th  of  June, 
17()3,  Stedman  had  completed  his  road,  and  appeared 
at  Lewiston  Landing  with  twent^'-five  portage  wagons, 
and  one  hundred  horses  and  oxen,  for  the  transportation 
to  Schlosser  of  the  king's  stores  destined  to  Detroit,  &c. 


IS  a  war- 
massacre 
it'  Niagara 
1762,  or 
if  llic  Iro- 
1  been  the 
ncli,  down 
"annda  by 
igcd  ibr  a 
d  Adiron- 
,d  invaded 
ne  ot"  their 
:oncluded, 
iccas  from 
.  Hence, 
1  witli  the 
connexion, 
be  lore  the 

rms  of  Sir 
Iso  did  the 
two  miles 
3  Were  of 
lion  of  the 
ve,  on  the 
J  between 
onstruct  a 
^anding  to 
rder  to  la- 
the other. 
1  of  June, 
appeared 
e  wagons, 
isportation 
etroit,  &c. 


FARMER'S-BROTHER. 


411 


Sir  Willirm  was  even  at  this  time  suspicious  as  to  the 
designs  of  the  Senecas,  although  the  French  power  in 
that  neigh])orhood  had  been  extinguished  four  years  be- 
fore ;  for  there  were  various  indications  of  an   uneasy 
and  hostile  disposition  among  them.     In  order,  there- 
fore, to  protect  the  teams,  goods  and  drivers  from  haru], 
a  strong  detachment  of  troops*  was  ordered  to  guard 
them   across  the   portage.      The   caravan,  under   this 
escort,  started  from  the  landing, — the  troops  in  advance, 
and  Stedman,  mounted  upon  a  fine  horse,  riding  be- 
tween them  and  the  teams.     A  small  rcdoulit  had  been 
thrown  up  on  an  inconsiderable  eminence,  near  the  De- 
vil's Hole,  garrisoned  by  twelve  men,  as  a  competent 
guard  tin'  ordinary  occasions  against  the  depredations  of 
the  savages.     The  place,  even  at  this  d;^y  wild  and  dis- 
mal, must  have  been  frightfully   so  then.     It  is  about 
three  miles  below  the  cataract,  on  the  American  side  of 
the  strait,  and  is  often  visited  by  the  inquisitive  traveller 
in  search  of  the  picturesque.     Indeed,  as  it  has  been 
justly  said,  '*  the  mind  can  scarcely  conceive  of  a  more 
frightful  looking  den.     A   large   ravine,  made   I)}''  the 
falling  in  of  the  perpendicular  bank,  darkened  L'y  the 
foliauc  of  the  birch  and  cedar,  wliich  had  taktm  root  be- 
low,  fuid  the  low  murmuring  of  the  rapids  of  the  chasm, 
added  to  the  distant  and  solemn  thunder  of  the  cataract 
itself,  contribute  to  render  the  scene  grand  and  awful. "t 
The  escort  approached  this  gloom}'  place  without  ap- 
prehension, and  the  teamsters  were  whistling  cheerily 
along,  unconscious  of  danger.     Fatal  security !     A  large 
body  of  Seneca  warriors  had  been  sagaciously  disposed 
in  ambuscade  under  the  conduct  of  Farmer's-Broiher, 
who  only  av/aited  their  arrival  at  a  designated  point,  to 

*  In  tlic  Hfo  of  Mary  Jomison  thu  number  is  stated  at  three  hundred,  but  that 
must  bi'  altoijether  too  great. 
t  Thatcher. 


1 1;, 


m'4 


;    ':'   : 


1  '' 

r 

1  ' 

1 

J 


412 


FARMER'S-BROTHER. 


leap  upon  them  like  so  many  tigers.  They  did  so,  and 
their  descent  was  like  a  storm-cloud  in  its  fury.  Falling 
upon  the  troops,  tenms  and  drivers,  and  the  guard  of 
twelve  already  mentioned,  eveiy  man  in  the  company, 
but  three,  was  eidier  killed  outright,  or  by  being  precipi- 
tated, together  with  the  teams,  headlong  down  the  pre- 
cipice, was  dashed  in  pieces !  One  of  the  Indians  seized 
Stedman's  horse  by  the  bridle,  and  was  attempting  to 
make  a  prisoner  of  him ;  but  some  extraordinary  act  of 
the  bloody  scene  diverted  his  attention  for  a  moment, 
and  was  the  menus  of  tStedman's  escape.  Quick  as  a 
flash  the  latter  cut  the  reins  yet  in  the  Indian's  hands,  and 
putting  spurs  to  his  horse,  the  animal  bounded  over 
the  dead  and  dying,  and  speedily  placed  his  master  be- 
yond die  reach  of  their  bullets,  although  sent  after  liim 
in  a  sliower.  Two  others  also  escaped,  one  of  whom 
was  a  drummer, — a  fortuitous  circumstance,  since  his 
rescue  Irom  death  was  owing  to  the  strap  of  his  dnuri, 
which  caught  the  limb  of  a  tree  in  his  descent  into  the 
chasm,  and  broke  his  fall.  The  tliird  had  his  thigh 
brolvcn  by  the  full,  but  he  nevertheless  succeeded  in 
crawling  out  of  die  den  and  finding  his  way  back  to  the 
garrison,  below  the  cataract.  The  Indians  themselves 
were  so  much  pleased  by  the  brave  conduct  of  Sted- 
man,  that  diey  giive  liim  a  handsome  tract  of  land  as  a 
reward  lor  his  dauntlessness.* 

During  the  whole  contest  of  tlie  American  revolution, 
Farmer's-Brodier  was  upon  the  war  patli,  as  an  active 
and  boUl  yet  sagacious  leader  of  his  jicople  in  the  cause 
of  the  British  crown.  But  after  the  conclusion  of  peace 
with  the  United  States,  lie  maintained  his  pacific  rela- 
tions widi  the  most  unw.'ivering  fidelity  to  the  end.  lie 
was  one  of  the  party  ol  chicjfs  who  visited  IMiiladelphia 

•  Olil  mniiiHoriiit  citod  liy  L.  S.  Everett,  formerly  of  Buflulo,  in  a  letter  to 
the  author  of  Mury  Jcmi ^on'!)  Life. 


id  so,  and 
.     Falling 
guard  of 
company, 
ig  prccipi- 
n  the  pro- 
lans seized 
;rnpting  to 
lary  act  of 
I  moment, 
iuick  as  a 
hands,  and 
ndcd   over 
master  be- 
after  him 
3  of  whom 
,  since  his 
"  his  drum, 
nt  into  the 
his  thigh 
■ceedcd  in 
)ack  to  the 
hcmsclves 
t  of  Sted- 
hind  as  a 

•cvohition, 
;in  active 
1 1  he  cause 
lu  of  pence 
:irific  rcla- 
cnd.  lie 
liulclphia 

u,  in  a  letter  to 


FARMER'S-BROTHKR. 


41 3 


on  a  friendly  mission  in  the  spring  of  1702,  and  was 
among  the  iittendants  upon  the  limcral  nud  burinl  of 
Peter  Jnqucttc,  whose  life  and  death  have  hccii  noled  in 
the  history  of  Red-Jacket.  He  was  also  one  of  the 
chiefs  who  replied  to  the  speech  of  the  governor  of  Tenn- 
sylvania,  welcoming  them  to  Philadelphia. 

In  the  spring  of  the  following  year  he  wns  present  nt 
a  grand  Indian  council  held  at  Niagara,  tlic  deliberations 
of  which  were  connected  willi  the  war  then  rnging  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  the  north-western  Indians. 
Those  hostile  Indians  were  represented  in  tlie  council, 
and  the  debates  were  lone;  and  ardent.  Farmer' s-Brother 
signalized  himself  on  this  occasion  by  a  speech  of  three 
hours  long,  of  great  elo([uence  and  power,  as  it  wns  re- 
ported, in  favor  of  pence.  Unfortunately  the  speeches 
of  the  council  were  never  written. 

The    speech,  or  conii)osilion,  of    Farmcr's-Brother, 
which  hns  been  most  ndniin.'d,  wns  delivered  at  a  couii- 
cil  held  by  the  Six  Nations,  at  (lenesee  Pivcr,  on  the 
21st  of  November,  l?!)"-^,  and  hns  nlready  l)een  referred 
to  in  the  preceding  life  of  l{ed-.Tacket.     It  was  intended 
as  a  communication  to  the  legislature  of  the  state  of  New- 
York,  and  was  transmitted  to  llint  body  us  such,  though 
first  delivered  in  the  form  of  a  s[ie('ch.     The  occasion 
was  this  :  Messrs.  Jones  and  Parish,  wiiose  names  hnvo 
rejientedly  occurred  in  the  foregoing  pnges,  as  Indinn 
interpreters,  iind  been  taken  enptive  by  llii>  Indinns,  in 
the  wnr  of  tin;  revolution,  and  adopteil  by  them.     Tiieir 
contidence  in  and  aileetion  for  boih  was  sUong,  and  it 
was  now  their  desire  to  give;  tliiMii  n  sui)stantial  ninrk  of 
their  favor  by  a  donntiou  ol"  Innd.     But  by  the   Inws  of 
the  state,  no  transfers  of  Indinn  Innds  could  i»e  mnde  to 
privnte  individunls,  unless  by  permission  of  tiie  govern- 
ment.    Ilencc^  the  l()llowing  comnnmicntion  in  the  Cnnn 
of  a  speech,  from  Ilo-nn-ye-wus,  lo  the  white  sachems 
around  the  council  lire  at  Albany : — 


[I'     IP 


li 


414 


FARMER'S-BROTHHR. 


m 


l&!;' 


m  ■  I 


Tlic  Sncliems,  Chiefs  and    Wc/?-rior.'i  of  tlic   Seneca  Nation,  to 

tlic  Sdchcms  and   CJiiefs  assemfJrd  about  the  great   Council 

Fire  of  the  State  of  New-  York  :— 

"  HiKJTiiF.iis  :  As  you  are  onco  more  assembled  in  council 
for  the  purpose  of  doing  honor  to  yourselves  and  justice  to 
your  country  ;  we,  your  brothers,  the  Sachems,  Chiefs,  and 
Warriors  of  the  Seneca  Nation,  request  you  to  open  your  cars 
and  jfive  attention  to  our  voice  and  wishes. 

"  JJiioTiiKKs  :  You  will  recollect  the  lato  contest  between 
you  and  your  father,  the  great  king  of  England.  This  contest 
threw  the  inhabitants  of  this  whole  island  into  a  great  tumult 
and  commotion,  like  a  raging  whirlwind,  which  tears  up  the 
trees,  and  tosses  to  and  fro  the  leaves,  so  that  no  one  knows 
fiom  whence  they  come,  or  where  they  will  fdl. 

"  HuoruKR  :  This  whirlwind  was  sf»  directed  by  the  Great 
Spirit  above,  as  to  throw  into  our  arms  two  of  your  infant 
children,  .laspcr  Parish,  and  Horatio  .Jones.  VV^o  adoj)ted 
them  into  our  t'amilies  and  made  them  our  children.  We  loved 
them  and  nourished  them.  They  lived  with  us  many  years. 
At  length  the  (ireat  S])irit  spoke  to  the  whirlwind,  and  it  was 
still.  A  cK'ar  and  uninterrupted  sky  appeared.  'J'lie  path  of 
peace  was  opened,  and  the  chain  f)f  fric-ndship  was  once  more 
made  bright.  Then  these  our  a<lopted  children  left  us,  to  seek 
their  relations.  Wo  wished  them  to  return  among  us,  and 
])romised,  if  they  woultl  retinn  and  live  in  our  country,  to 
give  each  of  them  a  seat  of  land  for  them  and  their  children 
to  sit  down  upon. 

"  liRoTUEiis  :  They  have  returned  and  have  for  several  years 
past  been  serviceable  to  us  as  interpret(u-s.  We  still  feel  our 
liearts  beat  with  aflection  for  them,  and  now  wish  to  fulfd  the 
])ronusc  we  made  them,  ajid  to  reward  them  for  their  services. 
We  liave  therefore  made  uj)  our  minds  to  give  them  a  seat  of 
two  scjuarc  miles  of  land  lying  oi:  the  outlet  of  Lake  iOrie, 
ai)nul  tliree  miles  below  J>lack  l{ock,  beginning  at  the  mouth  of 
a  creek  known  by  the  name  of  Scoy-gu-i|uoy-dcs  Creek,  run- 
ning one  mile  from  the  river  Niagara,  up  said  creek,  thenco 
norlherly  as  the  river  runs  two  miles,  thence  westerly  one  mile 
to  lh(!  river,  thence  up  the  rivLT  as  thi;  river  runs  I w<>  miles 
to  th(^  plac(!  of  beijinning,  so  as  to  contain  two  s(|uai('  miles. 

"  lliioTucKS  :  \Vo  iiavo  now  made  known  to  you  our  miiuls. 
wo  expect  and  earnestly  retjuest  that  you  will  permit  our  friends 
to  receive  this  our  gift,  and  will  niak(!  the  same  good  to  them, 
according  l(»  tht!  laws  and  customs  of  your  nation. 

"  HiioruKus  :  Why  should  you  hesilato  to  makti  our  minds 
easy  with  regard  to  this  our  re(|uest  (  To  you  it  is  but  a  little 
thing,  and  have  you  not  complied  with  iIk?  re(|iM;st,  and  coti- 
firniud  the  gill  of  our  brothers  iho  Unoidus,  the  Onoudugos 


ir^ 


} ,-«?' 


ill 


FARMER'S-BROTHER. 


41;-) 


Nation,  to 
■eat  Council 

1  in  council 
I  justice  to 
Chiefs,  and. 
in  your  ears 

!st  between 
riiis  contest 
frcat  tumult 
3ars  up  the 
I  one  knows 

y  the  Creat 
your  infant 
V^e  adnjited 
AV^e  loved 
many  years. 
,  and  it  wjis 
I'Ik^  path  of 
s  once  more 
t  us,  to  seek 
onif  us,  and 
country,  to 
eir  children 

Dvcral  years 

till  feel  our 

to  fulfil  the 

Mr  sorvice.s. 

ni  a  scat  of 

l^ake  J']rie, 

Ml  nioutli  of 

( 'reck,  run- 

LU'k,  thcnco 

ly  one  milo 

s  two  miles 

ire  miles. 

oil'-  minds. 

our  friends 

od  to  them, 

iiur  minds 

hut  a  little 

It,  and  ccm- 

Onondagas 


and  Cayugas  to  their  interpreters  1     And  shall  we  ask  and  not 
be  heard  l 

"  Brothers  :  We  send  you  this  our  speech,  to  wliich  we 
expect  your  answer  before  the  breaking  up  of  your  great 
council  fire."* 

This  brief  speech  has  been  uniformly  regarded  as  one 
of  the  most  interesting  specimens  of  Indian  elocpiencc, 
from  its  boldness  of  figure.  The  gentleman  who  wrote 
down  the  translation,  at  the  time,  in  furnishing  it  for 
publication,  remarked  in  a  note  to  the  editor,  that  for 
one  expression  Longinus  would  have  given  him  credit 
for  the  true  sublime  :  "  The  Great  Spirit  spoke  to  the 
whirlwind,  and  it  was  still." 

♦  TliP  fo]iv  ot'tliii  sprc'fh  wasrurnislioil  to  tlio  author  byJnmps  I).  Bi-niH,  V,m\., 
of  CiiiiiiTi(liii';uii,  iKim  tlii-oiiiriiiiil  |iiil)licatioii.  Messrs. .lonus  ami  I'niisli,  in  whoso 
bohull'  the  iipplicalioii  was  iniiilc,  botli  dicil  in  thu  suiiiinur  ot'  liiliO, — \\\v  lunniT 
ugi'il  scvi'iity-lwo,  and  the  hitter  sixty-nini'  years.  Tlie  hves  ot  both  were  event- 
ful, niuJ  were  niurkeii  w  ith  ineidiMita  of  a  reiuarkahle  character.  C'aplain  Hora- 
tio .Jones  was  born  in  Cliestir  county,  I'l'imsylvaiiiii,  in  iNovenibi'r,  17(i3,  and 
wliiU;  ()uite  younj;  einiijrated  wllli  his  parents  to  Bedford  county,  in  the  sanio 
state.  In  ](-|)l).  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  lie  enlisted  as  a  volunteer  iiiidi'r  Cap- 
tain Boyd,  in  an  excursion  ai;  linst  tlie  New-York  and  Canada  Indians,  who,  lid 
on  by  th("  notorious  liiiiier,  Br;int,  and  Bob  Nellis,  had  coiiiinilted  many  atro- 
cious massacres  in  thai  [leacel'ul  neifihhoihood,  sparing  neiiber  a;;e  nor  sex  from 
'he  lomaliawk  and  scalpnii;  kniti'.  Boyd's  company,  coiisi~tiiiii  of  thirly-lwo.  in 
eir  pursuil  ot'  Ncllis,  were  furpiiseil  by  a  laifje  ambuscade  of  Seneca  Indians, 
I  a  branch  ol'  the  .luniata,  about  half  the  [lariy  killed,  and  eiulil  made  prison- 
ers; ainone;  tlii>  latter  was  the  subjiil  of  this  notice.  He  was  conyeyed  to  llio 
Genesee  V  alley,  went  throuuh  llie  horrid  and  sava;,'e  ceremony  of  "  runnini; 
the  gaunllel,"  was  adopted  inio  an  Indian  family,  ainl  for  live  years  remained  u 
cni>tive,  sullerin;;  all  ilii'  piivalions  aed  hardships  incident  lo  Indian  life.  After 
the  treaty  of  ITli-l,  liewa^  ajipointeil  an  inlerprelc>r  for  the  Six  iSalion- by  ( lenerai 
VVashiiii^lon,  till'  duties  of  which  ollice  he  discbarj^ed  willi  ^reat  abilily  nnlil  ii 
year  or  t«c)  previous  lo  bis  ilealli.  I'osse.ssed  of  uncommon  menial  vi^or  and 
cpiick  |ierception,  lie  was  enabled  lo  lorm  iijust  estimate  of  characli  i,  and  diler- 
Itiiui'  willi  readiness  llu!  spiini^s  of  human  action. 

His  bravery,  I'hysical  power,  energy  and  decisiiMi  of  cliarncler,  t;avi'  him  i,rent 
command  ever  the  Indians  with  u  lioiii  he  was  associateil  and  In  nblaiiieil  ibeir 
entire  conlideiice,  which  all  uded  him  an  opuiirtumly  of  reiiibriii;;  valuable  ser- 
vice I"  the  government  in  our  snbsecpienl  inaiies  with  the  noitbeiii  and  wi'stem 
tribes.  Ho  was  the  laviuile  interpreter  ot  Ked-.lackel,  and  his  sisle  on  all  eccii- 
siuiis  was  chaste,  ;;ra|>liic  and  energetic.  Sincere  and  anient  in  his  allachmeiil, 
—frank  and  liosi)ilable  in  his  interi'ourse  with  the  world,  he  commamled  the  re- 
spect and  esteem  ot  alt  who  knew  him.  He  retained  the  full  posses-ioii  of  liin 
nieiital  liicullies  until  the  last  nioment,  mid  has  ^one  down  lo  llie  ;;rave  full  of 
years  and  with  a  character  abo\e  reproach.  In  the  various  ri'lalion- of  hiiibanil, 
father,  aiiJ  citizen,  his  loss  is  sincerely  uud  deeply  deplored. — J.iringsli'n 
iif^uVc/'. 

Thu  early   lifo   of   Cnptuiii  .lusper  I'uiish   was  likewise    marked    by     inci* 


It 


410 


FAIIMHR'S-BROTIIKR. 


'  t 


|l'i 


In  the  month  of  Deccinljcr,  .1811,  Farmer's-Brother 
nddresscd  a  letter  to  llie  lion.  WilUam  luistis,  then  Sec- 
retary of  Witr,  of  which  the  Ibllowing  is  a  copy: — 

"  Brother:  Tlio  snclioms  aiul  chief  warriors  of  the  Seneca 
nation  of  Indians,  understanding  that  you  are  the  person  ap- 
pointed hy  the  n-rcat  council  of  your  nation  to  manage  and 
conduct  the  affairs  of  the  several  nations  of  Indians  with 
wlioni  you  are  at  peace  and  on  terms  of  friendshiji,  come  at 
this  time  as  children  to  a  father,  to  lay  befoi'e  you  the  trouble 
which  we  have  on  our  mincis. 

"  JiROTHER  :  We  do  not  think  best  to  multiply  words.  We 
will  thei'efore  tell  you  what  our  complaint  is. 

"  Brother  :  Listen  to  what  wo  say.  Some  years  since  wo 
held  a  treaty  at  Big-treo,  near  the  (^enesce  Kiver.  This  treaty 
was  called  by  our  great  father,  the  President  of  the  Ignited 
States,  lie  sent  an  agent,  Colonel  W'adsworth,  to  attend  this 
treaty,  for  tJie  purpose  of  a<lvising  us  in  this  business,  and 
seein*'"  that  we  h  id  justice  done  us.  At  this  treaty  we  sold  to 
Robert  Morris  the  greatest  j)art  of  our  country.  The  sum  he 
gave  us  was  one  huiuli'ed  thousand  dollars. 

"Brother:  TIk;  I'omniissioner  who  was  a])pointed  on 
your  part,  advised  us  to  place  this  monc^y  in  the  hands  of  our 
great  father,  the  President  of  the  Ignited  States.  Ho  told  us 
our  father  loved  liis  red  cliildren,  and  would  take  care  of  our 
money,  and])lant  it  in  a  held  where  it  would  bear  seed  ftn-ever, 
as  long  as  trees  giow  or  waters  run.  Our  money  has  hereto- 
fore been  of  great  service."  to  us.  It  has  heli)ed  us  to  support 
oiu' old  people,  and  our  women  and  cliildren.  But  we  are  told 
the  Held  where  our  money  was  planted  has  become  barren. 

"  Brother  :  Wo  do  not  understand  your  way  of  doing  busi- 
ness.    This  thing  is  heavy  on  our  minds.     We  mean  to  hold 

tli'iits  whirh  save  iiiti'rrsi  Id  liis  ilinrnrtrr.  Ho  wns  l)nm  nt  WiinUmtn,  C'on- 
iirclii'Ut,  ill  iMaicli,  17(1(1,  1111(1  wliilc  II  i!liil(l  cinijiriiU'il  willi  his  |iiiifiils  lo  the 
I,;irkiiu;iX(Mi,  l.ii/.ciiii'i'oiiiily,  I'cnii.  Jii  177'!,  nt  llii.'  ll^'l>  oiVli'Vcii  yiirs,  when  the 
British  iiiiil  liuhiiii-'  liil  on  in  ihosi'  riillili'sschirrs  Jiutlcr  mid  ( ii-i'ii-i;\viih-l(ih  wcro 
waniiii;  nil  iiiiii'li'iiliiiv'  w.ii'liiii'  u|i(iii  thi'  iiiliiiiiilniils  iif  \\  viiinini;  Viilli'V,  he  was 
iniidi'  II  |iiis(iiiri'  hy  the  imty  iil  I  )i'lii\viiics  who  hiiil  a  li'W  iliiys  incvioiis  rmn- 
niilli'il  till'  iiti'oiioin  "  Miissiii'ii'  111'  \\  yiiiiiiiii;."  lli.^  H'liiiiiihii  ;i  ciqilivi.'  niiniiig 
till'  linliiiiM  si'vi'ii  yivir.s.  ihiiiim  whii  h  tiiin'  hr  wns  Imiislnrcil  fniiii  one  tiiho  to 
niiollirf  of  till'  Six  N'ntioiis,  siill'iTiiif;  ]iiiviitiiiiis  iiiciili'iit  lo  Imliiui  lilr.  lli'  was 
rcli'iisril  iVom  cninivily  iil  Knil  St:iiiwi\.  (imw  Umiii',)  iiinli  r  llii'  Irmly  ol"  1734. 
Ill-  h:iil  iicf|iiii'('il,  mill  i-iuilil  spi'iilv  Ihu'iitly,  live  ililli'ii'iil  liiiiuiM^i's  ol'  thrse  triljos, 
wliii  h  ('iiiil)li'il  him  lo  111'  iisi'l'iil  in  our  ■.iihs('r|iii'nt  inlrn:oiiisi'  willi  lliciii,  miil  ho 
possrsscil,  moii'ovcr,  iiiiiili  ol'  ilnir  cunrnlriiri'.  I  iiilcr  W  ii^iiiiiyloii's  iiiliiiiiii!i- 
friilion  hi'  wum  ii|i|ioiiili'il  inti'i|iii'lir  to  ihr  .'^ix  Nalions,  iiiiil  iilici  wnnls  siib-iimiit; 
both  of  wiiirh  olliri's  Ik-  held  iiioii'  limn  liiiily  ycius,  and  until  .Iiitd\!»oM's  ud- 
ITt'iiiisliation.  Ho  was  ati  t'liily  .st'lti(;r  in  C'aiiaiidaigiia,  having  rosidcd  llicro 
Aiiu'.i!  17!)°J  ;  and  he  well  suitaiiird  the  nlntioiis  uf  a  liui^huiid,  fathi'i'  niiJ  uilizun. 
Cananihiiffuu  lieposi/ori/,  cf  Jiili/  \'.),  llilili. 


's-Brother 
then  Sec- 

the  Seneca 
person  ap- 
ian age  and 
dians  with 
]),  come  at 
the  trouble 

ords.     We 

"s  since  wc 
This  treaty 
:he  Ignited 
attend  this 
siness,  and 
we  sold  to 
he  sum  ho 

lointcd  on 
lids  of  our 
J  To  told  us 
are  of  our 
cd  forever, 
las  hereto- 
to  support 
ve  are  told 
barren, 
loiiig  busi- 
an  to  hold 

nillin'n,  Cmi- 
iiicMls  Id  tlie 
■rii's,  when  the 

Wllll-tdlj  WlTO 

iillc  V,  Ik"  whs 
iri'vioud  ciiin- 

|ili\o  niMoiig 
1  iiML'  tribe  to 
il'c.      Ill'  was 

Mty  of  1734. 
I  lliisc  I  lilies, 
tliciii,  nnd  he 
nil's  luliiiiniii- 
lU  siib-infiit; 

llU-k80ll'8   11(1- 

rcsiiicd  llicro 
1  and  cilixon. 


FARMER'S-BROTIIER. 


417 
But 


our  white  brethren  of  the  United  States  by  the  hand, 
this  weight  lies  iieavy.     AVe  hope  you  will  remove  it. 

"  Brother  :  VVe  have  hoard  of  the  bad  conduct  of  our  bro- 
thers toward  the  setting  sun.*  We  are  sorry  for  what  they 
have  done.  But  you  must  not  blame  us.  Wo  have  had  no 
hand  in  this  bad  business.  They  have  had  bad  people  among 
them.     It  is  your  enemies  have  done  this. 

"  Brother  :  We  have  ])ersuadud  our  agent  to  take  this  talk 
to  your  great  council.  lie  knows  our  situations,  and  will  speak 
our  minds."t 

On  the  declaration  of  war  by  the  United  States  against 
Great  Britain,  in  1S12,  Farmer' s-Brothcr,  although  up- 
wards of  eighty  snows  in  years,  was  among  the  carhest 
to  proffer  his  services  to  the  United  States,  and  was 
among  the  foremost  upon  the  war-path  when  the  .services 
of  the  Indians  were  at  last  accepted.  The  part  he  bore, 
and  an  interesting  incident  in  his  career,  have  already 
been  noted  in  the  life  of  Red-Jacket,  and  need  not  here 
be  repeated. 

Unlike  the  greater  portion  of  his  race,  ho  had  the 
fortitude  to  abstiiin  Injui  ardent  spirits,  and  lived  and 
died  a  sober  man.  lie  was  remarkably  v/cll-ibrmed, 
and  erect  in  his  carriage,  and  trod  the  earth  witli  a  firm 
step  to  the  last — ever  grave  in  his  demeanor,  and  con- 
versing, but  only  through  an  interpreter  in  Knglish,  with 
great  precision.  "  He  was  as  lirm  a  friend  where  he 
promised  fidelity,  as  a  bitter  enemy  to  those  against 

*  Rofci'ring  to  tho  rising  of  tlii^  novth-wcstiTii  Iiidiuns,  unjur  Tocunisch  and 
tho  ShuwiiiR'si!  I'rophit. 

t  Mr.  Dnidtus  (iranm'r,  the  Indian  agent  of  tiio  United  Stoles,  certilied  that 
this  commiiiiicatiiiii  wa^t  deliveivcl  by  Karmcr's-lirother,  in  the  lonn  of  a  s|ieuch, 
and  beiiij;  riMlueed  to  writing,  was  signed  by  tlh'  Seneca  ebieli)  as  rulliiws: — 


I'armi'r's-Hrollier,  his  iiiaric  X 


Wheel-Harrow,  his  mark  X 


Little  Hilly. 

do 

X 

\'ouiig  King, 

do 

X 

rollaiil, 

do 

X 

C'liiel'  \Varrior, 

do 

X 

Two  (inns, 

do 

X 

Jolin  Sky, 

do 

X 

I'arrol-Soso, 

do 

X 

Jolin  fierce. 

do 

X 

Slroiig, 

du 

X 

•lack  Herrv, 

ilo 

X 

Twenty  Canoes 

-lo 

X 

Hii;  Kettle, 

do 

X 

llall-T'iwn, 

do 

X 

Keyandeande, 

do 

X 

Cuptaia  C'lild, 

do 

X 

]vsi|iiirc  HIinkey, 

do 

X 

Cui>tuiu  Juhiidun 

do 

X 

53 


r^'  % 


iT'! 


i; ; 


i        i 


»: 


W<' 


418 


FARMER'S-BROTHER. 


whom  he  contended ;  and  would  lose  the  last  drop  in 
his  veins  sooner  than  betray  the  cause  he  had  espoused. 
He  was  fond  of  recounting  his  exploits,  and  dwelt  with 
much  satisfaction  upon  the  number  of  scalps  he  had 
taken  in  his  battles  and  skirmishes  with  the  whites."* 
At  the  time  of  his  visit  to  Philadelphia,  as  already  men- 
tioned, Gen  "ral  Washington  presented  him  with  a  silver 
medal,  bearing  his  own  likeness,  which  the  chief  prized 
highly,  and  ever  aft'^rward  wore  suspended  from  his 
neck, — always  declaring  that  he  would  lose  it  only  with 
his  life. 

He  was  bold  and  uncompromising,  and  nobly  fearless 
in  his  resentments ; — and  although  on  many  occasions 
implacable  and  unrelenting,  he  not  unfrequently  mani- 
fested instances  of  feeling  and  sensibility  of  compas- 
sion which  few  savages  discover.  Not  like  Tecumseh, 
not  like  Pontiac,  he  at  times  listened  to  the  appeals  of 
suffering  humanity  even  when  strict  policy  demanded 
the  sacrifice, — and  at  all  times  when  strict  policy  did 
not  demand  it.  He  was  indeed  a  noble  instance  of  a 
great  and  magnanimous  mind,  covered  by  a  rough  and 
savage,  but  commanding  and  princely  exterior.  No  man 
who  looked  upon  Farmer' s-Brother  could  imbibe  feelings 
of  contempt,  disgust  or  hatred  ;  on  the  contrary,  all  who 
saw  him  were  impressed  with  respect,  if  not  veneration 
and  esteem.  There  was  no  meanness,  no  littleness,  no 
low  onterjDrise,  intrigue  or  management  in  his  deport- 
ment or  conduct.  All  was  open,  great,  dignified  and 
fearless.  The  impress  of  integrity  and  honor  chastened 
and  softened  the  sterner  outlines  of  his  chnractcr.t 

Soon  after  the  close  of  the  Niagara  campaign  of  1814, 
the  veteran  [)aid  the  debt  of  nature,  at  the  Seneca  village, 
where,  as  a  mark  of  respect  for  his  character  and  dis- 
tinguished bravery,  the  fifth  regiment  of  United  States 


•  B.  B.  Thatclmi'. 


t  MS.  Collections  of  Joseph  W.  Moulton. 


M 


St  drop  in 
espoused. 
Lwelt  with 
)S  he  had 
whites."* 
3ady  men- 
th  a  silver 
lief  prized 
.  from  his 
;  only  with 

ly  fearless 
occasions 
ntly  mani- 
f  compas- 
Fecumseh, 
appeals  of 
demanded 
policy  did 
stance  of  a 
rough  and 
No  man 
DC  feelings 
y,  all  who 
veneration 
cness,   no 
lis  deport- 
nified  and 
hastened 
cter.t 
n  of  1814, 
ca  village, 
r  and  dis- 
itcd  States 


FARMER'S-BROTHER. 


419 


infantry  interred  him  widi  military  honors.*  A  friend 
of  the  author  residing  at  Buffalo, t  who  knew  him  well, 
thus  descriljes  his  character  and  bearing  : — "  He  was 
every  way  a  great  man, — truly  one  of  nature's  nobles, 


-Tlip  front  of  Jove  himself, 


An  eye  like  Mars  to  threaten  and  command 
A  station  like  the  herald  Mercury. 

None  who  ever  saw  him  will  fail  to  recollect  his  ma- 
jestic mien  and  princely  bearing,  much  less  will  they 
who  have  heard  him  in  council  forget  the  power  and 
deep  toned  melodv  '^f  his  voice, — his  natural  and  impres- 
sive gc  stun  lUv.  unaffected  but  com)  :,.  I  "ng  dignity 
of  his  manner,  unrivalled  as  a  warrior,  and  only 
equalled  by  Red-Jacket  in  eloquence,  speaking  in  the 
verity  of  sober  prose,  it  may  be  said  that  his  was 

A  combination  and  a  form  indeed, 
To  give  the  world  assurance  of  a  man. 

With  such  attributes,  it  is  not  surprising  that  his  influ- 
ence with  his  nation,  though  its  form  of  government  is 
essentially  democratic,  was  controlling — nor  is  it  less  to 
his  true  glory,  that  his  open-heartedness,  his  fidelity  to 
truth  and  his  generous  magnanimity,  secured  for  him 
the  admiration  and  esteem  of  every  white  person  who 
had  the  honor  of  his  acquaintance." 


•  B.  B.  Thatcher. 


t  Hon.  Albert  H.  Tracy. 


I...I 


tP 


•r{ 


u 


luulton. 


:id 


GA-NIO-DI-EUH, 


OR 


THE  CORNPLANTER. 


W^ 


i  I"  p  I 


t'f 


f 


'  m 

-.:  *HS| 

CORNPLANTER. 


Few  names  are  of  more  frequent  occurrence,  in  the 
modern  history  of  the  Six  Nations,  during  a  period  of 
more  than  three-quarters  of  a  century,  than  that  of  The 
CoRNPLANTER.  His  Indian  name  was  Ga-nio-di-cuh,*  or 
Handsome-Lake,  and  supposing  him  to  have  been  twenty 
years  old  at  the  defeat  of  General  Braddock,  in  which 
bloody  affair  he  was  engaged,  he  must  liave  been  born 
at  least  as  early  as  the  year  173-5.  It  has  already  been 
stated,  both  in  the  life  of  Red-Jacket  and  in  the  pre- 
ceding sketch  of  Farmer's-Brolher,  that  the  Senecas 
fought  in  alliance  with  the  French  during  the  war  of  1755, 
— 1763,  and  the  defeat  of  Braddock  was  cntirel}--  owing 
to  them,  since  the  French  were  exclusively  indebted 
to  Indian  tactics  for  that  signal  victory.  What  part  was 
sustained  by  Cornplanter  in  that  memorable  action, — 
whether  he  was  a  chief,  or  whether  he  had  not  yet  ar- 
rived at  that  dignity, — cannot  be  told  ;  but  in  either 
case  he  doubtless  acquitted  himself  bravely,  for  he  was 
a  brave  man.  He  was  a  native  of  Conewaugus,  in  the 
valley  of  the  Genesee  River ;  being  a  half-breed,  the  son 

•  Great  difficulties  are  continually  encountered  in  settling  the  orthography  of 
Indian  names.  Every  original  w;  iter  fixes  upon  tiio  orliiograpliy  from  the  sound, 
and  scarcely  any  two  of  them  agree.  The  Indiiin  name  of  Cornplanter  has 
usually  been  written  Gyantwaia.  The  orthography  adopted  by  the  author  was 
received  from  Pierce,  a  Soneca  chief,  oducatel  at  Dartmouth  college. 


:>:!!■ 


,:i!'l].,.;|' 


424- 


CORNrLANTER. 


of  an  Indian  trader  from  the  Mohawk  Valley,  a  white 
man,  named  John  O'Bail.*  His  i'ather,  during  his  fre- 
quent journey's  from  Albany  to  Niagara  and  back,  became 
enamoured  of  a  squaw,  and  Cornplanter  was  the  fruit  of 
their  attachment.  Of  his  early  lilc  but  very  little  is 
known,  bey  iid  the  fact  already  stated,  that  he  was  in 
the  engagement  against  the  British  and  provincial  troops 
under  General  Braddock,  near  Fort  du  Quesne,  in  July, 
1755.  His  boyhood  was  in  nowise  distinguished  from 
that  of  his  juvenile  contemporaries,  according  to  his  very 
naive  letter,  written  long  allerward  to  the  Governor  of 
Pennsylvania  : — 


I'fi 


Ri  ik 


"  When  I  was  a  child,"  he  said  in  that  letter,  "  I  played 
with  the  butterfly,  the  grasshopper,  and  the  frogs ;  and  as  I 
grew  up,  1  began  to  pay  some  attention,  and  play  with  the 
Indian  boys  in  the  neighborhood ;  and  they  took  notice  of 
my  skin  being  a  different  color  from  their's,  and  spoke  about 
it.  I  in(|uired  of  my  mother  the  cause,  and  she  told  me  that 
my  father  was  a  resident  in  Albany.  I  still  ate  my  victuals 
out  of  a  bark  dish.  1  grew  up  to  be  a  young  man,  and  mar- 
ried me  a  wife,  and  I  had  no  kettle  or  gun.  I  then  knew 
where  my  father  lived,  and  went  to  see  him,  and  found  he  was 
a  white  man,  and  spoke  the  English  language.  He  gave  me 
victuals  while  I  was  at  his  house,  but  when  1  started  to  return 
home,  he  gave  me  no  provision  to  eat  on  the  way.  He  gave 
me  neither  kettle  nor  gun."     *  *  »  * 


i 


4- 


The  conflict  of  the  American  revolution  found  Corn- 
planter  a  war  chief  of  his  tribe,  in  the  full  vigor  of  man- 
hood, and  of  high  rank.  He  was  active,  sagacious,  elo- 
quent, and  brave.  But  from  that  period  to  the  close  of 
his  life,  his  history  was  from  necessity  so  closely  inter- 
woven with  the  lives  of  Brant  and  Red-Jacket,  that 
with  the  exception  of  the  few  of  his  letters  and  speeches 
that  have  been  preserved,  a  mere  rapid  outline  is  all 

*  Thi»  namp,  too,  has  l.ioen  variously  written,  O'Bail,  O'Beal,  and  Abeel.  I 
have  prefurrod  iho  lormer,  iu  tliu  uhsonco  of  positive  inlbrniation,  because  it  is  tho 
orthography  observed  in  the  life  uf  the  Seneca  white  woman,  Mary  Jemison. 


,  a  white 
r  his  tre- 
i,  became 
le  fruit  of 
■f  little  is 
le  was  in 
;ial  troops 
;,  in  July, 
shed  from 
0  his  very 
Dvernor  of 


"  I  played 
;  and  as  I 
y  with  the 
t  notice  of 
poke  about 
old  me  that 
my  victuals 
n,  and  mar- 
then  knew 
und  he  was 
ie  gave  me 
>d  to  return 
He  gave 


und  Corn- 
or  of  man- 
Lcious,  elo- 
le  close  of 
)sely  inter- 
icket,  that 
cl  speeches 
line  is  all 


and  Abeel.  I 
(L'cause  it  ia  the 
ry  Jemiaon. 


CORNPLANTER. 


42:> 


that  can  be  necessary  to  the  present  purpose.  He  is 
believed  to  have  participated  in  most  of  the  principal 
engiigements  in  which  the  Indians  bore  a  pyrt,  during 
that  war.  The  cruelties  of  Wyoming  and  Clierry  Val- 
ley were  cliiefly  enacted  by  the  iSenecas,  and  Cornplan- 
ter  was  doubtless  present  in  bodi  affairs,  although  his 
name  does  not  appear  in  the  accounts.  He  was  on  the 
wnr-path  with  Brant,  during  the  campaign  of  General 
Sullivan  against  the  Indian  towns  of  the  Cayugas  and 
Senecas,  in  1779,  in  the  course  of  which  it  may  be  re- 
membered he  had  occasion  to  reproach  Red-Jacket  for 
his  cowardice.  And  when,  in  a  subsequent  year,  the 
Indians  fearfully  avenged  the  invasion  of  Sullivan,  by 
sweeping  witli  fire  and  sword  through  the  valleys  of  the 
Schoharie-Kill  and  the  IVIohawk,  under  the  command  of 
Brant  and  Sir  John  Johnson,  Cornplan'.  .;r  was  the  leader 
of  the  Senecas.  It  was  during  this  expedition  that  he 
paid  another  visit  to  his  father,  who  was  then  residing  in 
the  ^'icinity  of"  Fort  Plain.  Having  ascertained  ..he  re- 
sidence of  his  sire,  he  made  him  a  prisoner,  but  with 
such  caution  as  to  avoid  an  immediate  recognition.  AT- 
ter  marching  the  old  man  some  ten  or  twelve  ujIIos  up 
the  river,  he  stepped  before  him,  faced  about  a.iu.  ad- 
dressed him  in  the  following  terms : — 

"  jNIy  name  is  John  O'Bail,  commonly  called  Cornjjlanter. 
I  am  your  son  !  You  are  my  father  !  \'ou  are  now  my  pri- 
soner, and  subject  to  the  customs  of  Indian  warfare.  JUit  you 
shall  not  be  liarmed :  you  need  not  fear.  I  am  a  warrior ! 
Many  are  the  scalps  which  I  have  taken  !  Many  prisoners  I 
have  tortured  to  death !  I  am  your  son  !  1  was  anxious  to 
see  you,  and  greet  you  in  friendship.  I  went  to  y<nir  cabin 
and  took  you  by  force.  But  your  Ufe  shall  be  spared,  Indians 
love  their  friends  and  their  kindred,  a"d  treat  them  with  kind- 
ness. If  now  you  choose  to  follow  t'"-  Lri-une  of  your  yellow 
son,  and  to  live  with  our  people,  I  wii;  cherish  your  old  age 
with  plenty  of  venison,  and  you  shall  live  easy.  But  if  it  is 
your  choice  to  return  to  your  fields  and  live  with  your  white 

54 


Hi 


flii::'., 


l:1im2.  Ill 


iiiittil 


f 


426 


CORNPLANTER. 


children,  I  will  send  a  party  of  my  trusty  young  men  to  con- 
duct you  back  in  safety.  1  respect  you,  my  lather  :  you  have 
been  friendly  to  Indians,  and  tliey  are  your  friends." 


i^ 


i  ! 


But  the  elder  O'Bail  preferred  his  white  children  find 
green  fields  to  his  yellow  offspring  and  the  wild  woods, 
and  chose  to  return.  He  was  therefore  discharged  by 
the  chief,  and  escorted  in  salety  back  to  his  own  habita- 
tion.* 

In  addition  to  these  greater  movements,  Cornplanter 
was  ever  active  in  smaller  war  parties  and  purtizan 
forays ;  nor  did  his  white  blood  modify  his  Indian  propen- 
sities, or  cool  the  temperature  of  his  vengeance  ;  for  his 
tendercst  mercies  were  cruel.  He  was  probably  en- 
gaged in  the  battle  of  Oriskany,  and  was  certainly  lurking 
about  the  precincts  of  Fort  Stanwix  at  subsequent  stages 
of  the  war,  ready  to  fall  upon  every  light  detachment  or 
straggler  Iroin  the  garrison  ;  and  by  his  own  confession, 
he  was  the  murderer  of  a  little  girl  who  was  shot  under 
the  guns  of  the  fort,  while  engaged  in  picking  black- 
berries.t 

But  notwithstanding  the  cruelty  of  his  hostile  prac- 
tices while  the  war  continued,  he  became  the  fast  friend 
of  the  United  States  when  once  the  hatchet  was  l)urI(Ml; 
nor  did  he  afterward  falter  in  his  pacific  course.  It  has 
already  been  seen,  both  in  tiie  lives  of  Brant  and  l{ed- 
Jacket,  that  he  was  the  efficient  agent  in  cffi;cting  the 
treaty  of  peace  concluded  at  Fort  Stanwix,  in  I7>1,  in 
opposition  to  the  elocjuent  persuasions  of  the  greatest  ora- 
tor of  his  nation.  He  very  well  knew  that  by  assenting 
to  the  large  cessions  of  territory  exacted  by  the  treaty, 
he  was  jeoparding  his  popularity  with  his  own  people. 
But  if  others  had  not,  he  hud  the  sagacity  to  perceive 


•  Mury  Jcmisuii. 


t  ViJu  Lifo  o(  Diaiit. 


CORNPLANTER. 


427 


sn  to  con- 
you  have 


hen  and 
I  woods, 
uged  by 
n  habitu- 

rnplantcr 
partiziui 
a  propcn- 
!  ;  tor  his 
)ably  on- 
ly lurking 
;nt  stages 
:liment  or 
onfcssion, 
hot  under 
ig  black- 
tile  prac- 
iist  Iriend 
,s  buried; 
It  has 
ud  Hed- 
cliug  the 
17^4,  in 
ilest  ora- 
asscnting 
e  treaty, 
I  people^ 
perceive 


that,  although  he  and  his  people  hnd  served  the  crown 
of  Great  Britain  with  all  fidelity,  they  hnd  nevertlielcss 
b(^en  abandoned  to  their  fate  by  their  more  powerful 
ally,  and  were  now  by  consetpience  reduced  to  the  mise- 
ral)le  alternative  cither  of  giving  up  as  much  of  their 
country  as  the  United  States  recjuired,  or  of  yielding 
the  irhole  of  it.     His  course,  and  it  was  also  the  course 
of  wisdom,  was  prescribed  by  the  necessity'-  of  the  case  ; 
and  l)y  the  energy  and  ability  with  which  he  conducted 
the  negotiation  he  yet  retained  lor  his  people  an  ample 
and  beautiful  territory.     In  a  subsc(|uent  negotiation, 
five  years  afterward,  at  Fort  Ilarmer,  in  a  mixed  coun- 
cil of  lii '.  own  and  several  of  the  northwestern  nations, 
he  assented  to  the  cession  to  the  United  States  of  an  im- 
mense tract  of  territoiy,  situated  beyond  the  Seneca 
country  proper.     This  country  was  claimed  by  the  Six 
Nations  by  right  of  cone luest  from  the  Erics  and  Dela- 
wares,  the  former  of  whom  they  had  exterminated.  There 
were  conflicting  Indian   claims  to  the  same  territory; 
and  disputes  ensued  which  were  the  cause  of  numerous 
and  protracted  dilHculties.     Very  scjon  afterward,  in  the 
same  year  it  is  believed,  viz.,  1789,  another  treaty  was 
held  with  the  Indians  at  Marietta,  which,  according  to 
contemporary  accounts,  "  terminated  entirely  to  the  satis- 
faction of  all  cf)nccrncd.     On  this  occasion  an  elegant 
entertainment  was  provided.     The   Indian   chiefs   be- 
haved wiUi  the  greatest  decorum  throughout  the  day. 
(lood  wine   was  served   after   dinner,   and    Cornplan- 
ter    took  up  his  glass  and  said: — •!  thank  the  (ircat 
Spirit   for    this    opportunity  of    smoking   the    pipe   of 
friendship  and   love.      May  we  plant  our   own  vines, 
be    the    fatliera   of   our    own   children,   and   muiataiu 
them.'  "• 


,1    • 
'i  ,1 


I  ii-    lil!l 


pj' 


III  ant, 


*  Quotatiun  from  Carey's  Muiuum,  by  Uruke. 


438 


CORNPLANTER. 


But  the  satisfaction  which  prevailed  at  tlie  conchision 
of  tlie  treaty,  and  on  this  festive  occasion,  was  not  dif- 
fused among  the  Senecas  and  others  of  the  Six  Nations 
at  home.  Far  from  it;  the  course  of  Cornplantcr  nt  Fort 
Stanwix,  F(jrt  Ilarmar,  and  Marietta,  was  severel}''  cen- 
sured by  liis  people,  and  in  the  bitterness  of  their  re- 
proaches his  life  was  threatened. 

Red-Jacket,  ns  has  been  stated  in  the  preceding  life 
of  the  orator, — more  eloquent  and  artful  tlian  his  elder 
rival,  but  less  frank  and  honest, — adroitly  rivailed  him- 
self of  the  unpiilatablcness  of  thos(;  treaties  for  his  own 
aggrandizrmcnt,  and  the  conse(iuenco  was  that  Corn- 
planter  Ibuud  iiiuiself  beset  with  diflicultics  at  home  on 
every  side.  In  this  emergency  he  resolved  to  apj)eal  to 
"  the  Great  Father  of  the  Fifteen  Fires,"  fleneral  Wash- 
ington, for  counsel,  and  perhnps  for  relief.  Uepniring  to 
Philadelphia,  tiic  dien  seat  of  the  fi-ilernl  government, 
accompanied  by  IIu/j'-Town*  and  Big-Tr('c,f  chiefs  or 


*  Till'  Indiiiii  n;imo  of  Ilalf-Tovn  wns  Achinut.  After  lln'  wnr  ^A'  \hc  rovo- 
liiticpii  vMis  li'iiiiihaic'd,  mill  jii'iiro  witli  tin'  Six  Niilioris  luiii'liuiril  iit  I  nrl  Stiiti- 
wix,  IIiill-Tiiwn  Itccanic  llii^  white  iiinii's  t'lii'iiil,  eiikI  iluiiiii;  llic  sMli<.i|\ii'nt  wnrs 
willi  tiir-  niipii!  wi'-li'in  Iiiiliiiiis',  lie  <'(iinimiiiiriili'ii  to  tlie  !;iiiiisiiii3  of  tlie  I  iiiti'd 
St.'ite- "vei'v  sMs|li^'illU^  iiioveineiiliprtlie  tril>es  iil  uliniii  (ioiilils  were  i  iilri'tiiiiieil. 
1  liistile  Iminl-*  tor  u  Ion;;  time  liovereil  iiliiiiit  tlie  piist  oC  \'eiiiiiii;n,  vvliicii,  hut  for 
the  viiiihinee  III'  ILiil-Tiiwri,  iiiiil  (ithei  liiemlly  Iiiiliiiiii,  woiilil   have  hi  en  cut  dIF. 

Ill  April,  17!)  I,  ('(iiii|iliiiiter  iiiid  lliill-Tiiwii  hail  mure  ihaii  mieh I  in  I  uiirriiirg 

ill  mill  iihtiilt  that  ^'iirri^oii,  ainl  kept  runners  nut  rnntinnally,  "  lieiiii;  ilelermilied 
til  pniloet  it  al  all  evnils.  Their  spies  ni  nle  tieipient  disioseries  nt'win  paitiei. 
On  the  I'Jlli  lit'  Aiii;iist  lliill-'l'iiwn  and  New  Arrow  pave  inl'oi  iiiniioM  at  Fort 
1  iiinUhii.  thiit  11  sloiip  full  of  Indians  had  heen  seen  on  Lake  lirie,  siiilinu'  for 
I'resiine  Isle,  and  their  ohiect  was  supposed  to  ho  that  lint;  hut  the  suspicion 
proved  to  he  i;riniiidless.  He  was  also  one  of  the  chiels  ill  ihe  ciMiiiiil  of  I'ort 
Ilmiiian,  in  17!11(,  mid  with  ( 'ortiplanter  sii;iiedthe  nnpopnlar  Irealv.  I'he  U-gis- 
lutnre  of  reiiiisylvaiiia  rewarded  his  hdelity  hy  ;;ranlin^   a  ipiaiiiitv  of  land. 

t  The  Indian  name  of ///y- V'rcc  was  Ki'-on-iti)-trii-niii,  [Orake's  ei  lho;;rapliy 
i»  Ki-an-do-<;e-w'a,  hut  the  author's  aiilhority  Is  uii  ancient  inaiiiiseripl  rccoivpd 
from  Thomas  Morris,  derived  from  Timothy  I'irkeriii;,'. J  Hi:;-Tieii  was  with 
(ieiier.il  Washinjitoii  during  the  summer  of  I*"!),  ns  may  he  seen  in  CainpheH'ii 
Annals,  and  my  Life  of  Dratit.  Mo  returned  to  the  Seiieen  eoiinlry  in  the  anliiinn 
of  that  year,  pnssini;  tliroiii;li  the  conntry  of  the  Dinidas,  who  were  nl  all  timoi 
friendly  to  the  t'liited  .Stnles,  mid  hy  w  horn  he  was  ri'  ■  ived  anil  entertained  with 
liii-piiality.  Vrrivi'd  iinioni:  the  .Seneeas.  he  used  his  eloqiieiiif  to  dissuade  them 
I'roni  liiiiui  r  linhlinj;  nndei  lirmit  ai;iiiiist  the  rnited  States,  hiii  to  no  t'ood  pur- 
puite.  lie  hiiil  promised  the  Oniidas  to  return  to  them,  and  hii\iii|;  staid  longer 
amoii    'Ik)  .Seiicca*  thiiii  wiit  cxpoulud,  a  mutsciigcr  \su«  dciputchud  tu  him  to 


!  r 


CORN  PLANTER. 


429 


)nclusion 
not  (lif- 
i  Nations 
r  at  Fort 
rely  ccn- 
tlicir  re- 
eding life 
his  elder 
ded  liim- 
r  his  own 
lat  Corn- 
home  on 
iippeid  to 
;d  Wash- 
pniring  to 
I'ernment, 
chiefs  or 


11-  (if  ihn  rrvo- 

iit  I'lirt  Sljin- 

lisi'i|iii'iit  wars 

(if  llii'  I  riitcd 

V  I  nil  iliiiiii'il. 

wliicli,  lint  lor 

Ixcii  lilt  off. 

liiil  wiirriors 

It;  ilcli'rmilicil 

if  VMM    ]lllltil'». 

iiilliiii  at  Kurt 
•iiiilinu  for 

llic  siispirion 
luiicil  of  I'ort 
IV.     Till'  U'^is- 

if  liiiul. 
M  oiilioynijiliy 
ii'iipl  ii'fcivod 

VII  Willi  with 
ill  ('uinplii'll'* 
ill  till'  iiiitiimn 

III  nil  tilMP« 

liTliiinccl  with 
ili<>iiiiilc  llii'tn 
no  L'ooil  pur- 
C  sliiiil  longer 
hud  tu  him  to 


sachems  of  consideration,  the  following  pathetic  nppeal 
for  a  reconsideration  of  the  several  treaties  hcforemen- 
tioncd,  and  for  a  modification  of  some  of  the  stipula- 
tions, was  presented  to  the  J'rcsident.  It  forms  a  loucli- 
ing  chapter  of  grievances,  and  its  composition  Mas  the 
work  of  Cornpbmter,  his  associates  in  the  inissicm  ap- 
proving thereof  by  their  signatures.  The  document  is 
long;  hut  the  talents  of  the  author  would  not  ho  Justly 
appreciated,  nor  the  history  of  the  Six  Nations  rendered 
complete,  without  it : — 

T/tc  Speech  (if  Cornplantcr,  Half-Town,  and  ril^-Trco,    Chlifs 

and  Call ncilJors t)f'  the  Hcncca  nation,  to  the  gnat  ('ninirilhir 

af  the  Thirlicn  Fires. 

"  Father  :  Tlio  voice  of  the  Seneca  nation  speaks  to  you, 
the  great  councillor,  in  whose  heart  the  wise  nuMi  of  ail  llie 
Thirteen  Fires  have  placet!  tlitsir  wisdom.  It  may  he  very 
sniall  in  yoiu'  ears,  and  we  therefore  entreat  you  to  lieaiketi 
with  attention  ;  for  we  are  ahmit  to  speak  of  tliinirs  which  arc 
to  us  very  great.  W'lien  your  army  entered  tlie  country  of 
the  Six  Nations,  we  called  you  the  Tairn  .De.stro)/er ;  and  to  this 
day,  wlieii  that  name  is  lieard,  our  women  look  hcliiiid  tlicm  and 
turn  pale,  ami  our  children  cling  to  the  necks  (<f  tlieir  motliers. 
Our  councillors  and  warriors  are  men,  and  cannot  he  afraid  ; 
but;  tlicir  '.oarts  are  grieved  with  the  fears  of  our  wijinen 
and  cliiidren,  and  desire  it  may  he  buried  so  deeji  as  to  be 
heard  no  more.  Wlien  you  gave  us  peace,  we  called  yt)u 
fatluir,  hecause  you  promised  to  secure  us  in  the  possession  of 
our  lands.  Do  tins,  and  so  long  as  the  lands  shall  remain, 
tliat  beloved  name  shall  live  in  tiie  heart  of  every  Seiinca. 

"  Fatiilr  :   We  mean  to  open  our  hearts  before  you,  and 

know  llio  rriHoti.  lie  rclunicd  answrr  llmt  whi'n  lin  nrrivcd  Qinoiii;  \\U  imtion 
hi'  foiiiiil  (lii'iii  nil  ill  iiniH,  and  tliiir  villii:;Pii,  Kiiiia<la-ii'ai;ii  iind  (iriii'tliaw, 
crowdc'il  "  nil  waniois  lioin  ninolc  Irilii'K,  who  nt  fust  ncciiicd  iiiclinril  lo  licaiUi'ii 
to  hi.i  \vi-i|ii'!i  ;  Imt  soon  IimiiiIiii;  IVoin  it  »py  that  llic  Amiiii'iiii"  ucic  alioiit  to 
iiiviiili-  llii'ir  riiiiMii'v,  all  llcw  lo  ariM->,  tiiiil  llial  hi'  liiid  put  liiiii^ill  at  lliiir  lirnd, 
'•  tli'li'iiiiiiii'd  lo  I'liiistisc"  III'  miiil,  "  iho  iiu'iny  llmt  dared  lo  iliinU  lo  pnsiinii! 
to  iiiviidi'  \i\-i  roiirilry."  AfhT  tlii"  pcari-  ho  lit'i'aiui'  an  aliidiiii;  iViriid  to  tlm 
I'liili'd  Stall'-'.  Ill'  tiiiiiiiti'd  till"  disa.sirr  of  St.  Clair'.'*  aiiiiy,  and  «a-.  In'aid  ti> 
SUV  that  III'  uoiild  have  two  4calp'«  tiir  (ii'iicral  liiitli'r's,  who  li'll  in  that  Moody 
biiltli',  iiiiil  was  Mulprd.  'I'lio  li'^i'<lalnii'  of  l'i'nn«ylvania  inado  him  a  cram  of 
hind,  roiiipri>ini;  an  inland  in  tlii'  .\Ni'i:hany  river.  Ihirii;  on  a  miIskIoii  to  I'hila- 
(lelphla,  in  l~'i'*,  he  dieil.  alter  a  short  illnes.s,  on  Snnilav  the  'J'Jd  ot  April,  and 
uiiit  liiirii'd  \Mlli  siiiialile  altentiuii.  llii  dosct'iiduntii  uiu  yd  ptTiuiiit  uf  buiiiu 
coiitidui'utiuii  uniuiig  lii«  |ico|ilo. 


I 


i^;    :|!: 


!t 


I.(  .1 


430 


CORNTLANTER. 


wo  earnestly  desiic  that  you  will  let  us  clearly  uriclorstaiul 
what  you  resolve  to  do.  AVhen  our  chiefs  returned  from  tlio 
treaty  at  Fort  Stanwix,  and  laid  before  our  eouiicil  what  had 
been  done  there,  our  nation  was  surprised  to  hear  how  i^icat 
a  country  you  had  compelled  lluMii  to  give  up  to  you,  without 
your  paying-  U)  us  any  thing  for  it.  J']  very  oni;  said  that  your 
hearts  wen;  yet  swelled  with  resentment  against  us  I'or  what 
had  happened  during  the  war,  but  that  one  day  you  would  re- 
consider it  with  more  kindness.  We  asked  each  other,  '  What 
have  wo  done  to  deserve  such  severe  chastisement  !' 

"  Father  :  AVhen  you  kindled  your  thirteen  fires  separate- 
ly, the  wise  men  that  assembled  at  them  told  us,  that  ynu  were 
all  brothers,  the  children  ot  one  great  father,  who  regaided, 
also,  the  red  people  as  his  children.  Tiiey  called  us  bro'iers, 
and  iiiviteil  us  to  his  protection ;  they  told  us  that  he  resided 
bey(nid  the  great  water,  where  the  siin  first  ris<;s;  that  he  was 
a  king  whose  power  no  pet)ple  cotdd  resist,  an<l  that  his  good- 
ness was  as  bright  as  that  sun.  What  they  said  went  to  our 
hearts  ;  we  accepted  the  invitation,  and  promised  to  obey  him. 
AVhat  the  Seneca  nation  promise,  lln^y  faitiifully  ])erforiii;  and 
Avhen  you  refuseil  obedience  to  that  king,  he  commanded  us  to 
assist  his  beloved  men  in  making  you  sober.  In  obeying  him 
we  did  no  more  than  yourselves  had  h.'d  us  to  ])romise.  The 
men  that  claimed  this  ]nomise  told  us  you  were  children,  and 
had  no  guns  ;  that  when  they  had  shaken  you  you  would  sub- 
mit. We  hearkened  to  them,  and  were  deceived,  until  your 
army  approached  our  towns.  We  wt-re  deceived  ;  biit  your 
people,  in  teaching  us  to  confide  in  that  king,  had  helped  to 
deceive,  and  we  now  appeal  to  your  heart, — is  the  blame  all 
ours  ? 

"Father:  When  wo  saw  that  we  were  deceived,  and 
heard  tlu^  invitation  which  you  gave  us  to  draw  near  to  the 
fire  which  you  had  kindled,  and  talk  with  ynu  conci'iiiing 
peace,  wo  made  haste  towards  it.  You  then  told  us  that  wo 
were  in  your  hand,  and  that  by  closing  it  you  coidd  crush  us 
to  nothing,  and  you  demanded  I'lom  iis  a  great  country,  as  tho 
price  of  that  p<;ace  which  you  had  olll'ied  us; — as  il"  our  want 
ol' strength  had  destroyed  our  rights.  Our  chiefs  had  felt  your 
power,  and  were  unable  to  contend  against  yon,  and  they 
therefore  gave  up  that  country.  What  they  agretMl  to  hart 
bound  our  nation  ;  bnt  your  anger  against  us,  nmst,  by  this 
time,  be  cooled;  and  although  our  strength  has  not  iiu-n-ased, 
nor  yonr  power  become  less,  W(!  ask  yon  tocon-^idrr  calmly,^ 
were  tho  terms  dictated  to  us  by  your  commissioners,  reason- 
able and  just  ? 

"  I'^Ai  iiKii :  Your  connnissioners,  when  they  drew  the  lino 
which  separated  the  land  then  given  up  to  you,  from  that 


idorstand 
from  ilio 
\vhat  hail 
()\v  great 
,  witlioiit 
.liat  your 
lor  what 
u<>ulil  ro- 
r,  '  Wliat 

scparate- 

you  were 

roganlocl, 

bro  "lers, 

lo  iosid(!<l 

at  hv  was} 

liis  gootl- 

tit  to  our 

()l)oy  liim. 

loriii;  and 

idfd  us  to 

t-yiug  him 

liso.     The 

hhi'u,  uutl 

,ould  sub- 

uutil  your 

but  your 

'icl[)('d  to 

I  blauic  all 

ivt'd,  and 

af  to  the 

iiu'i'iiiiug 

tliat  wo 

crush  U9 

try,  as  tho 

our  want 

felt  your 

and  they 

to  has 

>t,  by  tliis 

increased, 

ihniy,— 

-.  rea>oii- 

V  tho  lino 
iVont  that 


CORNTLANTER. 


431 


which  ynii  agrord  should  remain  to  bo  ours,  did  most  solemnly 
proniis(.'  lliat  we  should  be  secured  in  the  peaceable  [lossessidu 
of  the  lands  wliich  wo  inhabited  cast  and  north  of  that  line. 
Does  tiiis  promise  bind  you  i 

"Hear  now,  wc  beseech  you,  what  has  happened  concern- 
ing that  huid.  On  the  day  in  which  we  finished  the  treaty  at 
I'^oit  Stanwix,  conunissioners  from  Pennsylvania  toll  our 
chiefs  that  they  had  come  tlierc  to  jiurchase  all  the  lands  be- 
longing to  tis  within  the  linos  of  their  state,  and  they  told  u3 
that  their  line  would  strike  the  river  Susqueharmah  below 
Tioga  branch.  'I'ht>y  then  left  us  to  consider  of  the  barc,ain 
till  llie  next  day.  On  the  next  day  we  let  them  know  tiiat  wo 
were  unwilling  to  sell  all  the  lands  within  their  state,  and  pro- 
posed to  \c\  lliem  have  pait  of  it, — which  we  pointt'd  out  to 
them  in  their  map.  Tiiey  told  us  that  they  nnist  have  tho 
whol(! ;  that  it  was  already  ceded  to  them  by  the  great  king, 
at  tjie  time  of  making  peace  with  you,  and  was  //leir  t/ini ;  but 
they  said  that  they  would  not  take  advantage  of  that,  and  were 
Avilling  to  j)ay  us  for  it, — after  the  mamuu'  of  their  anci-stors. 
( )ur  chiefs  weie  unable  to  contend  at  that  time,  and  therefore 
they  sold  tlie  lands  up  to  the  line  which  was  then  shown  to 
them  as  the  line  of  that  .slate.  What  tin;  commissioners  had 
said  about  the  land  having  been  ceded  to  them  at  the  peace, 
our  chiets  considered  as  intended  only  to  lessen  the  price,  and 
they  j)asscd  it  l)y  with  very  little  notice  ;  but,  since  tliat  time, 
we  have  heard  so  much  from  others  about  the  right  to  tmr 
lands,  which  tli(^  kimr  gave  when  you  made  ])eace  witli  him, 
tiial  it  is  our  earnest  desire  that  you  will  tell  us  what  it  means. 

"  l'\\  rni'.it :  Our  nation  empowered  .lohn  Livingston  to  let  out 
pail  of  our  liuids  on  rent,  to  be  j);iid  to  us.  lie  told  ns  that 
he  WHS  sent  by  congress,  to  do  this  i'oi'  us,  and  we  fear  he  has 
dec(.'ived  us  in  the  writing  he  lias  obtained  from  ns.  For 
since  the  liiu(^  of  our  giving  that  power,  a  man  of  the  name  of 
I'helps  has  cniue  among  us,  and  claimeil  our  whole  counli'y 
iiorlliward  of  the  line  of  I'emisylvania,  under  juirchase  from 
that  iiivingstoii,  to  whom,  hi;  said  he  had  ])aid  twenty  thousand 
dollars  tiir  it.  lie  said,  also,  that  he  had  bought  likewise  from 
the  council  of  the  llilrleen  fires  and  paid  them  twenty  thou- 
sand dollars  more  Ibr  tiie  same. 

"  And  lie  -aid,  also,  tiiat  it  did  not  belong  to  us,  for  the  gi'ont 
king  h;id  ceded  tiie  uholi-  ot"  it,  when  ymi  made  ])eacc  with 
him.  'J'hus  he  claimed  the  whole  counlry  north  of  remisyl- 
vania,  and  west  of  tho  lands  belongiiig  to  the  Cayngas.  He 
demnnded  it  ;  he  insisted  on  his  demand,  and  declared  llmt  ho 
Would  have  it  n/f.  It  was  iin[)ossible  for  us  to  grant  liiin  this, 
and  we  immediately  refused  it.  Aller  some  days  lie  proposed 
to  rmi  a  line,  at  a  small  dislanco  eastward  of  our  western 


■  f 


P 


432 


CORNPLANTER. 


Ilii':, 


m' 


boundary,  which  we  also  refused  to  agree  to.     He  then  threat- 
cued  us  with  immediate  war,  it'  wc  did  not  (■on)ply. 

"  I'pon  this  tiu'cat,  our  chief's  lield  a  council,  and  tliey  agreed 
tliat  no  event  of  war  could  be  worse  than  to  be  driven,  with 
our  wives  and  children,  from  the  only  country  which  we  had 
any  right  to  ;  and,  thcT'cfore,  weak  as  our  nation  was,  they  de- 
termined to  take  the  chance  of  war,  rather  than  submit  to  such 
unjust  demands,  which  seemed  to  have  no  bounds.  Street,  the 
great  trader  to  Niagara,  was  then  with  us,  having  come  at  the 
request  of  lMn;lps,  and  as  he  always  professed  to  be  our  great 
friend,  we  consulted  him  upon  this  subject.  lie  also  told  us 
that  our  lands  had  been  ceded  by  the  king,  and  that  wo  mast 
give  them  up. 

"Astonished  at  what  we  heard  from  every  quarter,  with 
hearts  aching  with  compassion  for  our  women  and  children, 
we  were  thus  compelled  to  give  up  all  our  country  north  of 
the  line  of  Pennsylvania,  and  east  of  the  Genesee  Kiver,  up 
to  the  fork,  and  east  of  a  south  line  drawn  from  that  fork  to 
the  Pennsylvania  line. 

"For  this  land,  i 'helps  agreed  to  pay  us  ten  thousand  dol- 
lars in  hand  and  one  thousand  a  year  ft)r  ever. 

"He  paid  us  two  thousand  and  five  hundred  dollars  in  hand, — 
j)art  (jf  the  ten  thousand, — and  he  sent  i'or  us  to  come  last  sjiring 
and  receive  our  money  ;  but  instead  of  paying  us  the  remainder 
of  the  ten  thousand  dollars,  and  the  one  thousaiul  dollars  due  for 
tlie  first  year,  he  offered  us  no  more  than  five  hundred  dollars, 
and  insisted  that  he  agieed  with  us  for  that  sum,  to  he  paid  yearly. 
AVe  debated  with  him  for  six  days,  during  all  which  time  he  per- 
sisted in  rcifusing  to  j)ay  us  our  just  demand,  and  he  insisted 
that  we  sliotdd  receive  the  five  hundred  dollars;  and  Street, 
from  Niagara,  also  insisted  on  our  receiving  the  money,  as  it 
was  otVi'icd  to  us.  The  last  reason  he  assigned  f(ir  (ontimiing 
to  icfust!  ))aying  was,  f/nif  the  liiiii;  had  veiled  (ill  the  hinds  to 
tliv  'Vhirtti II  Fires,  and  that  he  had  bought  them  from  you,  and 
jxiid  iiiHi,  fur  I  he  III. 

"  Wo  could  l)ear  this  confusion  no  lo  ig(!r  ;  and  determined 
to  press  through  every  difhcully,  and  lift  up  f)ur  voice  that  you 
inigiit  hear  us,  and  to  claim  tliat  security  in  the  possi'ssion  of 
our  lands  which  your  commissioners  so  solenuily  promised  us. 
And  wo  now  entreat  you  to  inquire  into  our  coniplainJs,  and 
redicss  our  wrongs. 

"  I'^ATiiKU  :  Our  writings  were  Iodised  in  the  hands  of  Street, 
of  Niagara,  as  we  supposed  him  to  be  our  friend  ;  but  wIk^u 
we  saw  I'helps  consulting  with  Street  on  every  occasion,  we 
doulited  of  his  hoiu'sty  towaids  us,  and  we  have  since  luMird 
that  lit!  was  to  receive  for  his  endeavors  to  di'ceive  us,  a  pieco 
of  land  ten  miles  in  width  west  of  llio  (jiuncsee  Uiver,  and 


len  thrcat- 

liey  agreed 
riven,  with 
^h  we  had 
s,  they  de- 
mit to  such 
Street,  the 
■onie  at  the 
e  (lur  great 
[ilho  told  us 
lut  wo  must 

larter,  with 
id  children, 
try  north  of 
I  lUver,  up 
that  i'ork  to 

lousand  dol- 

■s  in  hand, — 
c  hist  s])ring 

0  remainder 
Ihirs  (Uie  for 
h(>c1  dollars, 

paid  yearly, 
time  lu'per- 

1  he  insisted 
and  Street, 

money,  as  it 

r  ( DUthming 

till'  htnds  to 

nn  you, and 

(Iftorniined 

|)icc  thiit  you 

los-^t'ssion  of 

iromised  us. 

)laiii;s,  and 

Is  of  Street, 

;  but  when 

jccasion,  we 

since  lii-ard 

>  us,  a  pieco 

iliver,  and 


CORNPLANTER. 


433 


near  forty  miles  in  length,  extending  to  Lake  Ontario  ;  and 
the  lines  of  this  tract  have  been  run  acconlinj^ly,  although  no 
jiart  of  it  is  within  the  bounds  which  limit  his  purchase.  No 
doubt  he  meant  to  deceive  us. 

"  Father:  You  have  said  that  we  are  in  your  hand,  and 
that  by  closing  it  you  could  crush  us  to  nothing.  Are  you  de- 
termined to  crush  us  1  If  you  are,  tell  us  so  ;  that  those  of 
our  nation  who  have  become  your  children,  and  have  deter- 
mined to  die  so,  may  know  what  to  do. 

"  In  this  case,  one  chief  has  said  he  would  ask  you  to  put 
him  out  of  pain.  Another,  who  will  not  think  of  dying  by 
the  hand  of  his  father  or  his  brother,  has  said  he  will  retire 
to  the  Chateaugay,  eat  of  the  fatal  root,  and  sleep  with  his 
fathers  in  peace. 

"  Before  you  determine  on  a  measure  so  unjust,  look  up  to 
God,  who  has  made  us  as  well  as  i/iiu.  We  ho])e  he  will  not 
permit  you  to  destroy  the  whole  of  our  nations. 

"  Father  :  Hear  our  case  :  many  nations  inhabited  this 
country  ;  but  they  had  no  wisdom,  and  therefore,  they  warred 
together.  Ti  ^  Six  Nations  were  powerful,  and  compelled 
them  to  peace ;  the  lands  for  a  great  extent  were  given  up  to 
them ;  but  the  nations  which  were  not  destroyed  all  continued 
on  those  lands,  and  claimed  the  protection  of  the  Six  Nations, 
as  the  brothers  of  their  fathers.  They  were  men,  and  when 
at  peace  had  a  right  to  live  on  the  earth.  The  French  came 
among  us  and  built  Niagara  ;  they  became  our  fathers,  and 
took  care  of  us.  Sir  William  Johnson  came  and  took  that 
fort  from  the  French  ;  he  became  our  father,  and  promised  to 
take  care  of  us  and  did  so  until  you  were  too  strorg  for  his 
king.  To  him  we  gave  four  miles  around  Niagara,  as  a  place 
of  trade.  We  have  already  said  how  we  came  to  join  against 
you  ;  we  saw  that  we  were  wrong ;  wo  wished  for  peace ; 
you  demanded  a  great  country  to  Ih;  given  tip  Ut  you  ;  it  was 
surrendered  to  you,  as  the  price  of  peace,  iuid  wo  ought  to 
have  peace  and  possession  of  the  little  laud  which  you  then 
left  us. 

"  Father  :  When  that  great  country  was  given  up,  there 
wore  but  few  chiefs  present,  and  they  were  ccmipclled  to  give 
it  u]),  and  it  is  not  the  Six  Nations  only  tiiat  reproach  these 
chiefs  with  having  given  up  that  country.  The  Chippewas, 
and  all  the  nations  who  lived  on  tliose  lands  westward,  call  to 
us,  and  ask  us, — '  Brothers  of  our  fathers,  where  is  the  ])lace 
you  have  reserved  for  us  to  lie  down  upon  ?' 

"  Father  :  You  hcavo  compelled  us  to  do  that  which  has 
made  us  ashamed.  We  have  nothing  to  answer  to  the  chil- 
dren of  the  brothers  of  our  fathers.  When,  last  spring,  they 
called  upon  us  to  go  to  war,  to  secure  them  a  bed  to  lie  upon, 


■HIi! 


bb 


434 


CORNPLANTER. 


m'.  u 


f" 


I  I 


■i-   p   1 


the  Scnocas  entreated  them  to  be  quiet,  till  we  had  spoken  to 
you.  But  on  our  way  down,  we  heard  that  your  army  had 
gone  toward  the  country  which  those  nations  inhabit,  and  if 
they  meet  together  the  best  blood  on  both  sides  will  stain  the 
ground. 

"  Father  :  We  will  not  conceal  from  you  that  the  Great  God, 
and  not  man,  has  preserved  the  Coinplantcr  from  the  hands  of 
his  own  nation.  For  they  ask  continually,  '  Where  is  the 
land  which  our  children,  and  their  children  after  them, 
are  to  lie  down  upon  V  '  You  told  us,*  say  they,  '  that  the 
line  drawn  from  Pennsylvania  to  Lake  Ontario,  would  mark  it 
for  ever  on  the  east,  and  the  line  running  from  Ijoavcr  Creek 
to  Pennsylvania  would  mark  it  on  the  west,  and  we  see  that  it 
is  not  so.  For  first  one  and  then  another  comes  and  takes  it 
away  by  order  of  that  people  which  yon  tell  us  promised  to 
secure  it  to  us.'  He  is  silent ;  for  he  has  nothinf  to  answer. 
When  the  sun  goes  down,  he  ojiens  his  heart  Ijefore  God, 
and  earlier  than  that  sun  apjiears  upon  t'.K.  hills,  he  gives 
thanks  for  his  protection  during  the  night ;  for  he  feels  that 
among  men,  become  desperate  bj  jir  danger,  it  is  fJod  only 
that  can  preserve  him.  He  loves  ])eace,  and  all  that  he  had 
in  store  ho  has  given  to  those  who  have  been  robbed  by  your 
people,  lest  they  should  plunder  the  innocent  to  repay  them- 
selves. The  whole  season,  which  others  have  employed  in 
providing  for  their  families,  he  has  spent  in  his  endeavors  to 
preserve  jieace ;  and  at  this  moment,  his  wife  and  children  are 
lying  on  the  ground,  and  in  want  of -food  ;  his  heart  is  in  pain 
for  them,  but  he  perceives  that  the  Great  God  will  try  ;us  firm- 
ness, in  doing  what  is  right. 

"  Father  :  The  game  which  the  Great  Spirit  sent  into  our 
country  for  us  to  eat,  is  going  from  among  us.  \Ve  thought 
that  he  intended  we  should  till  the  giourd  with  tlie  plough,  as 
the  white  people  do,  and  we  talked  to  one  another  about  it. 
But  before  we  speak  to  you  concerning  this,  wo  must  know 
from  you  whether  you  mean  to  leave  us  and  our  children  any 
land  to  till.  Speak  plainly  to  us  concerning  this  great  busi- 
ness. 

*'  All  the  lands  we  have  been  speaking  of  belonged  to  the 
Six  Nations  ;  no  part  of  it  ever  belonged  to  the  King  of  Eng- 
land, and  he  could  not  give  it  to  you. 

"  The  land  we  live  on,  our  fathers  recci%ed  from  God,  and 
they  transmitted  it  to  us  for  our  children,  and  we  cannot  part 
with  it. 

"  Father  :  Wo  told  you  that  we  would  open  our  hearts  to 
you.     Hear  us  once  more. 

•'  At  Fort  Stanwix  we  agreed  to  deliver  up  those  of  our 
people  who  should  do  you  any  wrong,  that  you  might  try  them, 


;pokcn  to 

iirmy  had 

)it,  and  if 

stain  the 

reat  God, 
!  hands  of 
re  is  the 
tei'   them, 

'  that  the 
Id  mark  it 
^cr  Creek 
see  that  it 
id  takes  it 
oniised  to 
to  answer, 
tiire  God, 

he  gives 
:  fools  that 

(Jod  only 
liat  he  had 
d  hy  your 
:pay  them- 
iployed  in 
ileavors  to 
lildren  are 

is  ill  pain 
y  his  firm- 

nt  into  our 
le  thought 
ploufrh,  as 
r  alM)Ut  it. 
nust  know 
lildren  any 
great  busi- 

i^ed  to  the 
ig  of  Eng- 

1  God,  and 
;annot  part 

r  hearts  to 

inse  of  our 
it  try  them, 


CORNPLANTER. 


435 


and  punish  them  according  to  your  law.  We  delivered  up  two 
men  accordingly,  but  instead  of  trying  thein  according  to  your 
laws,  the  lowest  of  your  ])e()ple  took  thein  from  your  magis- 
trate, and  ])ut  them  immediately  to  death.  It  is  Just  to  punish 
murder  with  death;  but  the  Seiiecas  will  not  dediver  up  their 
people  to  men  who  disregard  the  treaties  of  their  own  nation. 

"  I-'atiier  :  Innocent  men  of  our  nation  are  killed  one  after 
another,  and  our  best  families ;  but  none  of  your  j)eople  who 
have  committed  the  murders  have  been  punished. 

"  We  recollect  that  you  did  not  promise  to  punish  those 
who  killed  our  people,  and  we  now  ask,  was  it  intended  that 
your  people  should  kill  the  Senecas,  and  not  only  remain  un- 
punished by  you,  but  be  protected  by  you  against  the  revenge 
of  the  next  of  kin  ( 

"  Fatiiku  :  These  are  to  us  very  great  things.  We  know 
that  you  are  very  strong,  and  we  have  heard  that  you  are  wise, 
and  we  wait  to  hear  your  answer  to  what  we  have  said,  that 
we  may  know  that  you  arc  just. 

It  mriy  be  rctnembcred  that  a  brief  reference  to  the 
preceding  speech  was  made  in  the  I^it'e  of  Red  Jacket; 
and  it  will  not  have  escaped  the  render's  attention,  that 
other  Grievances  than  those  connected  with  the  treaties 
of  Fort  Stanwix  and  8t.  Clair,  are  in  this  document  pre- 
sented. In  his  reply,  President  Washington  was  evi- 
dently embarrassed  by  a  struggle  between  his  feelings 
and  the  sterner  behests  of  duty.  Commiserating  tiie 
situation  of  the  chiefs  and  their  people,  it  may  well  be 
conceived  that  his  humane  inclinations  were  in  favor 
of  the  supplicants.  On  the  otiier  hand,  the  terms  of  the 
treaties,  particularly  in  regard  to  the  dilHculties  with 
Oliver  Phelps,  did  not  justify  the  complaints  of  die  In- 
dians. He  doubtless  said  all  he  could  for  their  encour- 
agement, under  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  evading 
some  of  their  complaints,  ;ind  passing  entirely  over 
others.  Ho  assured  them  that  no  fraudulent  means  of 
obtaining  their  lands  would  be  sustained  l)y  the  govern- 
ment, and  that  in  one  particular  act  complained  of,  (the 
purchase  of  their  lands  by  Livingston  and  others,)  the 
whole  transaction  had  been  declared  null  and  void.    The 


:i  in 


I    i- 


'i.  I'.,  , 


|! 


(J 


■!  i 


1 

. 

1 

1    [ 

it? 

i-\ 

1 

1 

i 

1 

486 


CORNPLANTER. 


persons  who  had  murd'Ted  several  of  their  people,  he 
assured  them  should  be  dealt  with  in  the  same  manner 
as  though  they  had  murdered  white  men,  and  that 
all  possil)le  means  should  bo  used  for  their  nrrest 
and  proper  rewards  offered  to  stimulate  exertions  for 
that  purpose.  In  regard  to  the  lands  conveyed  to  tlie 
United  States  by  treaty,  the  President  could  only  assure 
them  that  he  had  no  authority  to  interpose  in  the  pre- 
mises. On  the  whole,  his  reply  to  them  was  such  as  to 
soothe  their  feelings,  and  to  afford  them  a  little  encour- 
agement, but  not  all  they  hoped  for.  In  the  course  of 
this  answer.  General  Washington  bore  the  following  tes- 
timony to  the  character  of  the  head  of  the  deputation  : 
"  The  merits  of  Cornplanter,  and  his  friendship  for  the 
United  fcjtates,  are  well  known  io  me,  and  sliall  not  be 
forgotten;  and,  as  a  mark  of  esteem  of  the  United 
States,  I  have  directed  the  Secretary  of  War  to  make 
him  a  present  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  either 
in  money  or  goods,  as  the  Cornplanter  shall  like  best." 

Cornplanter  and  liis  associates  rejoined  to  the  speech 
of  the  President,  referring  again  to  some  of  their  real  or 
fancied  grievances,  and  pleading  for  the  restoration  of  a 
small  portion  of  their  lands  which  had  been  ceded  by 
the  treaty  of  Fort  Stanwix,  comprising  the  village  of 
Hall-Town  and  his  clan.  As  one  reason  for  making 
this  application,  they  urged  that  the  treaty  at  Fort  Stan- 
wix  was  made  while  the  United  States  were  too  angry 
with  them,  and  that  the  exactions  then  insisted  upon, 
were  unwarrantable  and  unjust.  This  rejoinder  was 
made  by  Cornplanter,  and  is  here  inserted  at  large  : — 

T7ie  Sjx'crk  of  Cornplanter,  Ilalf-Toivn,  and  (Ircat-Trcc, 
Cliiifa  of  the  Seneca  Nation,  to  the  President  of  the  United 
States  of  America. 

"  Father  :  Your  speecli,  written  on  the  great  paper,  is  to 
U3  like  the  first  light  of  the  moniing  to  a  aick  man,  whose 


jople,  he 
manner 
and  that 
r    arrest 
tions  for 
(1  to  the 
ly  assure 
the  pre- 
ich  as  to 
B  encour- 
:ourse  of 
iwiug  \Cii- 
putatif)n : 
p  tor  the 
11  not  be 
e    United 
to  make 
irs,  eltlier 
le  best." 
le  speech 
!ir  real  or 
ation  of  a 
ceded  by 
villa.iiC  of 
r 

ort  Stan- 
too  angry 
ted  upon, 
nder  was 


argc  :- 


heat-Tree, 
the    United 


laper,  is  to 
laii,  whose 


COKNI'LANTER. 


437 


piilsn  bents  too  strongly  in  his  temples,  and  prevents  liim  from 
sleep,     lie  sees  it  and  rejoices,  but  is  not  ciiied. 

"  You  f-'iiy  that  you  have  spoken  plainly  on  the  great  jioint. 
That  you  will  protect  us  in  the  lands  secured  to  us  at  F-  rt 
Stanwix,  and  that  we  have  the  right  to  sell  or  to  nfusr  to  sell 
it.  This  is  very  good.  Jiut  our  nation  complain  tliat  you 
compelled  us  at  that  treaty  to  give  U]>  too  much  of  our  lands. 
Wo  confess  that  our  nation  is  hound  by  what  was  theie  done  ; 
and,  acknowledging  your  power,  we  have  now  ap])ealed  to 
yourselves  against  that  treaty,  as  made  while  you  were  too 
angry  at  us,  and  therefore  unreasonable  and  unjust.  To  this 
you  have  given  us  no  answer. 

"  Fathlr:  That  treaty  was  not  made  with  a  single  state, — 
it  was  with  the  Thirteen  States.  We  never  would  have  triven 
all  that  land  to  one  state.  We  know  it  was  before  you  had 
the  great  authority,  and  as  you  have  more  wisdom  than  the 
commissioners  who  forced  us  into  tha;  reaty,  we  expect  that 
you  have;  als(j  more  regard  to  justice,  and  will  now  at  our  re- 
quest, reconsider  that  treaty,  and  restore  to  us  a  })art  of  that 
land. 

"  Fatukr  :  The  land  which  lies  between  the  lino  running 
south  I'rom  l^ake  Erie  to  the  boundary  of  I'ennsylvania,  as 
mentioned  at  the  treaty  at  Fort  Stanwix,  and  the  eastern 
boundary  of  the  land  which  you  sold,  ami  the  Senecas  con- 
firmed to  I'ennsylvania,  is  the  land  in  which  Half-Town  and 
all  his  pe(jple  live,  with  other  chiefs  who  always  have  been  and 
still  are  dissatisfied  with  the  treaty  at  Fort  Stanwix.  They 
grew  out  of  this  land,  and  their  fathers  grew  out  of  it,  and 
they  cannot  he  ])ersuaded  to  ])art  with  it.  We,  therefore,  en- 
treat y(»u  to  restore  to  us  this  little  piece. 

"  F.\tul;k  :  Look  at  the  land  which  we  gave  to  you  at  that 
treaty,  and  thesi  turn  your  eyes  up(;n  what  we  now  ask  you  to 
restore  to  us,  and  you  will  see  that  what  we  ask  you  to  retuin 
is  a  very  little  piece.  By  giving  it  back  again  you  will  satisfy 
the  whole  of  our  nation.  The  chicifs  who  signed  that  treaty 
will  be  in  safety,  and  peace  between  your  children  and  our 
children  will  continue  so  long  as  your  land  shall  join  to  ours. 
Every  man  of  our  nation,  will  then  turn  his  eyes  away  from  all 
the  other  lands  which  we  then  gave  up  to  you,  and  forget  that 
our  fathers  ever  said  that  they  belonged  to  them. 

"Fathkr  :  We  see  that  you  ought  to  have  the  path  at  the 
carrying-])lacc  from  Lake  li  ie  to  Niagara,  as  it  was  marked 
down  at  Fort  Stanwix,  and  wc  are  all  willing  that  it  should 
remain  to  be  yours.  And  if  you  desire  to  rescrvr-  n  passage 
thiough  the  Conewago,  and  through  the  Chalaugue  Lake  and 
land,  for  a  path  from  that  lake  to  Lake  Erie,  take  it  where 
you  best  like.     Our  nation  will  lejoice  to  sec  it  an  open  path 


1 


!( 


'ii 


i  '  1; 


WA 


:.  ■■i\ 


iiS 


,(.;J 


I  I'-i; 


H|« 


?.<■■•    } 


! 


1: 


43S 


CORNPLANTKR. 


for  you  and  your  children  wliilo  tlio  land  and  water  remain. 
l>ut  l(jt  us  also  pass  along  tlio  same  way,  and  cji  tinuo  to  tako 
the  lisii  of  those  waters  in  connnon  with  yovi 

"  Father  :  You  say  tliat  you  will  appoint  -'  ,":;<'ut  to  take 
care  ol'  us.  Let  him  come  and  take  care  ot"  ■  '.  trade  ;  but 
we  desire  ho  may  iu)t  have  any  thing  to  do  witii  our  lands  ; — 
for  the  agents  which  have  come  among  us  and  pretended  to 
take  care  of  us,  liave  always  deceived  us  wlienever  wc  sold 
lands;  both  when  the  King  of  England  and  ihe  Slates  have 
bargained  with  us.  They  have  by  this  means  occasioned 
many  wars,  and  wo  are  therefore  unwilling  to  trust  them  again. 

"  1''athf.k  :  When  we  return  home,  we  will  call  a  great 
council,  and  consider  well  how  lands  may  be  hereafter  sold  by 
our  nation.  And  when  we  have  agreed  upon  it,  we  \vill  send 
you  notice  of  it.  But  we  desire  that  you  will  not  depend  on 
your  agent  for  information  concerning  land;  Ibr  after  tho 
abuses  which  we  have  sufl'ered  by  such  men,  we  will  not  trust 
them  with  any  thing  which  relates  to  land. 

"  F.\TMi:ii  :  There  are  men  that  go  from  town  to  town  and 
beget  children,  and  leave  them  to  perish,  or  except  better  men 
take  care  of  them,  to  grow  up  without  instruction.  Our  nation 
has  looked  round  for  a  father,  but  they  found  none  that  would 
own  them  for  children,  until  you  now  ti;il  us  that  your  courts 
are  open  to  us,  as  to  your  own  people.  The  joy  which  we 
feel  at  this  great  news,  so  mixes  with  the  sorrows  that  are 
past,  that  we  cannot  express  our  gladness,  nor  conceal  the 
remembrance  of  our  alllictions.  We  will  speak  of  them  at 
ancjtluu"  time. 

"Fatmkr:  We  are  ashamed  that  we  have  listened  to  the 
lies  of  Livingston,  or  been  influenced  by  threats  of  war  by 
Phelps,  and  would  hide  that  whole  transaction  from  the  world 
and  from  ourselves,  by  quietly  receiving  what  I'helps  pro- 
mised to  give  us  for  the  laiuls  they  cheated  us  of.  But  as 
I'helps  will  not  pay  us  even  according  to  that  fraudulent  bar- 
gain, we  will  lay  the  whole  proceedings  before  your  court. 
When  the  evidence  which  we  can  ])roduce  is  iieard,  we  think 
it  will  ap[)ear  that  the  whole  bargain  was  founded  on  lies, 
which  he  placed  one  upon  another;  that  the  goods  that  he 
charges  to  us  as  part  payment  were  ])lundered  from  us  ;  that 
if  I'helps  was  not  directly  concerned  in  the  theft,  he  knew  of 
it  at  the  time  and  concealed  it  from  us  ;  and  that  the  persons 
ve  confided  in  were  bribed  by  him  to  deceive  us  in  the  bar- 
gain ;  and  if  these  facts  appear,  that  your  court  will  not  say 
that  such  bargains  arc  just,  but  will  set  the  whole  aside. 

"i'\\ruEii:  We  ap])rehended  that  our  evidence  might  be 
called  for,  as  I'helps  was  here,  and  knew  what  we  have  said 
concerning  him  ;  and  as  Ebenezer  Allen  knew  something  of 


m 


r  remain. 

10  to  lako 

it.  to  take 
•iulfi  ;  buE 
liuids  ; — 
.•lom''.tl  to 
[•  \vc  sold 
lutes  have 
)ccasioned 
H'ln  again. 
U  a  great 
er  sold  by 
■  will  send 
lepend  on 
alter  the 

11  not  trust 

1  town  and 
better  men 
Our  nation 
that  would 
y-our  courts 
'  which  we 
/s  that  are 
•onceal  tha 
of  them  at 

sued  to  the 
(jf  war  by 
the  world 
lelps  pro- 
But  as 
ulent  l)ar- 
)nr  court, 
we  think 
d  on  lies. 
Ills  that  he 
ni  us  ;  that 
le  knew  of 
le  persons 
in  the  bar- 
ill  not  say 
side, 
might  be 
have  said 
)mething  of 


)i". 


V( 


CORNTLANTER. 


430 


the  matter,  we  desired  him  to  continue  hero.     NiHiolscn,  tho 
interpreter,  is  very  sick,  and   wo   request  that  Allen  nuis  re 
main  a  it;w  days  longcu-,  as  he  speaks  our  language. 

"  F.vmEU  :  The  blood  which  was  spilled  near  Pine  Creek 
is  covennl,  and  we  shall  never  look  where  it  lies.  Wt;  know 
tliat  I'einisylvania  will  satisfy  us  fen- that  which  we  s])oke  of  to 
them  before  we  spoke  to  you.  The  chain  of  friendship  will 
now,  we  hope,  be  made  strong  as  you  desire  it  to  be.  Wo 
will  hold  it  fast,  and  our  end  of  it  shall  never  rust  in  our 
hands. 

"  F.VTMF.R  :  ^V''e  told  you  what  advice  wo  gave  the  jieoplo 
you  are  now  at  war  with,  and  we  now  tell  you  that  they  havo 
promised  to  come  again  to  our  towns  next  spring.  We  shall 
not  wait  for  their  coming,  but  will  set  out  very  early,  and  sIkjw 
to  them  what  you  have  done  _for  i/s,  which  must  convince  them 
that  you  will  do  fi)r  them  evcMy  thing  which  they  ought  to  ask. 
We  think  they  will  hear  and  follow  our  advice. 

"  Fatiif.ii  :  You  give  us  leave  to  speak  our  minds  concern- 
incc  tlie  tilling  of  the  ground.  We  ask  you  to  teach  us  to 
plough  and  to  '.riiiid  coin  ;  to  assist  us  in  building  saw-mills, 
and  to  supply  us  with  broad-axes,  saws,  augers,  and  other 
tools,  so  as  tiiat  we  make  our  houses  more  comfortable  and 
more  durable;  that  you  will  send  smiths  anionic  us,  and,  above 
all,  that  y(ni  will  teach  our  children  to  read  and  wiite,  and  our 
women  to  si)in  and  to  weave.  The  manner  of  your  doing  these 
things  for  us  we  leave  to  you,  who  understand  tlu-m  ;  but  we 
assure  you  we  will  follow  your  advice  as  far  as  we  are  able." 

The  Prcsidciat  replied  to  this  appeal  in  a  .spirit  of 
kindness,  reminding  tlic  chiefs  that  the  treaty  of  Fort 
Stanwix  hiid  been  fully  confirmed  at  Fort  Ilttrnian  in 
17Si), — aoaln  staling  to  tlicm  that  it  was  not  within  his 
power  to  annal  the  provisions  of  a  trcsty, — more  espe- 
ciall}''  of  one  thnt  had  been  concluded  before  hi.s  admi- 
nistration commenced, — btit  assuring  them  th;it  Ilidf- 
Town  nnd  his  people  should  not  be  disturbed  in  the 
peaceful  occupnnrv  of  the  territory  which  they  desired 
to  reclaim.  Tlio  President  also  suggested  that  he  had 
in  contemplation  the  .idoption  of  some  measures  for 
teaching  the  Indians  the  n.se  of  letters,  of  domestic  .mi- 
mals,  and  the  arts  of  husbandry.  Tlie  stay  of  the  ciiiefs 
in  Philadelphia  was  protracted  until  the  7th  of  February, 


■  I 


1i 


'  1^ 


440 


CORNPLANTF.R. 


I'   it 


11    '  ■: 


vvlicn  tlicy  took  leave   by  the    f()ll<iwing  letter  to   the 
President : — 

T/ic  Speech  of  Cornplanter,  Half-  Toirn,  and  Blf^-  Tree,  Seneca 
C/iitfi,  to  the  great,  Councillor  of  the  Thirteen  Fires: 

"  Fatiiku  :  No  Sotiocii  evor  goes  from  the  I'm;  of  his  friend, 
until  ho  has  said  to  iiim,  '  I  am  going.*  We  rhercfDie  toll  you, 
that  we  are  now  setting  out  for  our  own  country. 

"  Fathek  :  W(!  thiink  you,  from  our  liearts,  that  wo  now 
know  there  is  a  country  we  may  ciill  oiii'  own,  and  im  which 
we  may  lie  down  in  peace.  W'e  see  that  there  will  be  peace 
between  your  children  and  our  cliildnMi ;  and  our  liearts  are 
very  glad.  We  will  persnade  the  Wyandots  and  other  wes- 
tern nations,  to  open  their  eyes,  and  look  towards  tlu;  lie<l  which 
yon  have  made;  for  rs,  and  to  ask  of  you  ;i  lied  for  lliemselvea, 
and  their  children,  that  will  not  slide  from  under  them. 

"  We  thank  you  for  your  presents  to  us,  and  rely  on  your 
promise  to  instruct  us  in  raising  corn,  as  the  white  people  do; 
the  sooner  you  do  this  the  better  for  us.  And  we  thank  you 
for  the  cart!  you  have  taken  to  ]>reveiit  bad  ?nen  frotn  coining 
to  trade  among  us  ;  if  any  come  without  y  nir  licenst;  wi;  will 
turn  thein  back  ;  and  we  hope  our  nation  will  determine  to 
spill  all  the  rut7i  wliich  shall  hereafter  be  brought  to  our  towns. 

"  I'^vruKii:  We  are  ghui  to  hear  that  you  determine  t(»  ap- 
point an  agent  that  will  do  us  justice,  in  taking  care  that  bad 
men  do  not  come  to  Iradt^  among  us  :  but  we  earnestly  entreat 
yon  that  you  will  let  us  have  an  int(.'rpreter,  in  wluim  we  can 
conlide,  to  reside  at  Pittsburgh;  to  that  place  our  j)eoplo,  and 
other  nations,  will  long  continue  to  resort ;  there  we  must  send 
what  news  we  hear,  when  we  go  among  the  western  nations, 
which  we  are  determined  shall  be  early  in  the  Spring.  We 
know  .lose])h  Nicholson,  and  he  speaks  our  language  so  that 
we  clearly  tnidersland  what  you -^ay  to  us,  and  we  r(!l)  on  what 
Ik;  says.  If  we  weri;  abh;  to  jmy  him  liir  his  sei  vices  we  would 
do  it;  but,  when  we  nieiuit  to  pay  him,  by  giving  hiiu  land,  it 
has  not  be«>n  confirmed  to  him  ;  and  he  \vill  not  serve  us  any 
longer  ntdess  you  will  pay  him.  Let  him  stand  between,  to 
entreat  you. 

I'atiikk  :  Vou  have  not  nskod  any  sectnity  for  peace  on  our 
part,  but  we  Inive  agreed  to  send  nine  Seneca  boys  to  be  under 
your  call'  for  education.  Tell  us  at  what  time  you  will  receive 
them,  and  they  shall  be  soiit  at  the  time  you  shall  appoint.  This 
will  assure  you  that  W(!  are,  iudi-ed,  at  peace  witii  you,  and  de- 
termiiu'd  to  conlimie  so.  If  you  <'an  leach  them  to  become 
wise  and  good  m(>n,  we  will  take  care  that  our  nation  shall  bo 
willing  tu  receive  iii.structioii  ironi  them. 


}£t^ 


CORNPLANTER. 


441 


r  to  the 


cr,  Scncra 
V/v'.v. 

his  friend, 
•c  toll  you, 

t  wo  now 
on  which 
1  be  peace 
houits  are 
other  wes- 
hcil  which 
hiMTiselves, 

(MU. 

ly  on  your 

|)t!o|)lc  do ; 

tliiuik  you 

)ni  coming 

s»(  wo  will 

tormiiie  to 

(tui"  towns. 

nine  to  iip- 

ro  that  had 

<tly  entreat 

ini  wv  can 

)eople,  and 

nnist  send 

Ml  nations, 

in<r.      We 

\ri'  SO  that 

1^  on  what 

s  we  would 

int  land,  it 

\i>  us  any 

Mtweon,  to 

iice  on  our 
)  he  under 
vill  receive 
tuiiit.  This 
Ml,  and  >le- 
tu  l)ecome 
II  shall  bo 


This  letter  was  answered  in  behnlf  of  the  President 
by  (Jencrid  Knox,  .Secretary  at  War.  He  cautiously  in- 
formed theiu  tliat  instead  of  taking  a  portion  of  their 
youth  aw;iy  from  their  country,  to  be  educated  iibroad, 
it  was  [)roposed  by  the  J'resident  to  send  a  schoolmaster 
to  resiile  among  them.  Two  or  three  finncrs  were 
also  to  1)0  })lanted  in  their  country,  to  teach  them  the 
arts  of  husbandry.  With  these  and  other  favorable 
assunuites,  Cornplantcr  and  his  associates  departed  for 
th<Mr  homes.  Arriving  at  Tittsburgh,  thcj^  ascertained 
that  some;  fresii  outrages  and  additional  nnirders  had 
been  commitleil  by  tlie  wiiites  against  and  uj)on  their 
people?,  whercnipon  Cornphmler  immcdiiitely  atldres^ed 
the  Ibliowing  letter  of  just  complaint  to  the  President: — 

Mcxnaijc  f'nitn   the   dirnphinfur,  Nvir- Arrow,    Huff-Toi/'n,   and 

Jjii(-  'inr,  (  7iii /'s  iif  the  Sfiicca  natiun  vf  InduU'S,  la  t.ht  Pre- 

side/if  1)/'  tin'  i'liitcd  States, 

"  riTTsiu  Hfiir,  M(trrh  17,  17'.)1. 

"  Srii :  When  wo  rose  IVoin  the  Great  Ci»iiijcil  ul'  the 
Thirteen  Fires,  we  mentioned  that  we  meant  to  have  a  coun- 
cil with  the  chiefs  of  the  hail,  an<j;ry  Indiiins.  'i"lii()iiu;li  the 
whole  I  junker  State,  as  we  (;;un<!  up  the  road,  we  were  treated 
Well,  and  they  took  good  care  of  us  until  we  caine  here.  One 
misf()rtuiie  happened  oyily,  that  one  of  our  waifons  is  not  yet 
arrivetl  here  ;  the  one  we  first  engaged,  with  the  goods  you 
presented  lo  us. 

"  l''\riii;ii:  ^'our  promise  to  us  wna,  that  you  would  ket.'p 
all  your  people  (|uiet  ;  but  since  wc;  came  hero,  we  hiid  that 
some  of  our  people  have  been  killed, — the  gcjod  honest  people 
who  were  here  trading. 

"  Fatiiku  :  We  ho|)e  you  will  not  sufl'er  all  the  good  people 
to  be  killed  ;  but  your  iieople  are  killing  tlii-ni  as  fa^t  as  ihey 
cuu.  Thre;!  men  ami  one  woman  have  been  killed  at  Ihg 
Biiaver  Creek,  and  they  were  good  people,  and  some  oif 
the  white  people  will  testify  the  truth  of  tiiis.  When  wo 
beard  the  news  we  found  one  hoy  had  made  his  escape,  and 
got  fo  the  trader's  house,  who  saved  his  life  ;  we  now  wait  to 
see  him. 

"  l''.\Tiir.ii ;  Wo  have  been  informed  that  twonty-sovon  men 
came  from  another  state,  imd  nnirderod  these  men  in  tho 
Quaker  State,  and  took  away  nine  hoisca,  and  all  the  goods 

60 


i;m, 


]j  -i 


m. 


M' 


W^ 


m 


if 


^.  ill! 


]   '  ' 


442 


CORNl'LANTER. 


they  Imd  pnrcliased  from  the  trader.  Our  father,  and  niler 
over  all  iiiaiikiiid,  now  .speak  and  tell  us,  did  you  order  those 
men  to  ho  killed  ? 

"  Fatiikr  :  Our  word  is  pledged  to  you  that  we  would  en- 
deavorto  :-  ake  peace  with  all  warrior  nations.  If  we  cannot 
do  it,  do  not  hhunc  us;  you  struck  the  innocent  men  first. 
We  hope  you  will  not  blame  us,  as  your  people  have  fiist  hroke 
good  rules  ;  but,  as  for  our  people,  they  are  as  firm  and  friendly 
as  ever. 

"  Fatiiek  :  We  must  now  acqufiint  you  with  the  men's  names 
who  did  this  murder  at  Beaver  ('reek  ;  Samuel  Brady,  fbnneily 
a  captain  in  your  army,  and  under  your  command  ;  also  a  Bal- 
den, were  j)ersons  concerned  in  this  murder. 

"  Fatiikii  :  We  can  inform  you  little  more  ;  therefore  will 
conclude  with  asking  you  how  we  should  have  come  to  the 
knowledge  of  this,  or  how  we  could  have  informed  you,  had  it 
not  been  for  our  good  friend  Joseph  Nicholson  I  Tlierefore 
we  beg  you  may  grant  him  an  ap])ointment  as  interpreter  ;  for 
we  cannot  see  huw  we  can  do  without  him.  We  know  of  no 
other  man  who  speaks  your  language  and  ours  so  well  as  he. 

"  CoR.NPi.ANTKU,  X  his  Hiaik. 
"  New-Ariiow,  X  his  mark. 
"  Hai,i"-To\vn,  X  his  mark. 
"  Big-Tkee,  X  his  mcrk. 

"  1*.  S.  Tlic  boy  wlio  made  his  escape  at  Beaver  Creek  lias 
arrived  at  tliis  place,  and  I  h;iv(!  taken  him  under  my  protec- 
tion. Father,  your  despatches  from  Detroit  have  been  una- 
voidably detained,  heretofore  ;  but  to-morrow  Big-Tree  and 
one  other  shall  set  off  with  them,  and  will  also  take  the  boy 
mentioned  here,  and  deliver  him  to  his  relations.  We  part, 
to-day,  at  this  place  ;  Jiig-Trce  is  going  among  the  Cross  In- 
dians to  :-e(?  if  they  will  make  peace,  and  I  go  t(»  my  own 
peo])lu  to  cull  them  to  council. 

"COriNPLANTFR." 


I 

HK^ 


The  Secretary  at  War  replied  to  this  message  on  the 
28th  of  INIiuxh,  disclaiining  and  denouncing  the  outrages 
committed  by  Brady,  ami  assuring  the  Indians  that  Ge- 
neral St.  Clair,  then  commanding  in  (~)hio,  should  make 
full  incjuiry  into  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  reimburse 
the  Indians  for  tiie  property  destroyed,  and  discover  and 
arrest  the  oflt-nders  if  possible. 

It  will  hav(>  b(  "Ti  observed  from  the  last  two  comiiui- 
nications  of  Cornplantcr   and  his  associates,  that  iiig- 


CORNTLANTER. 


443 


and  nilcr 
)icler  those 

would  cn- 
\ve  cannot 
men  first, 
first  broke 
iid  friendly 

en's  names 
y,  ibnnorly 
also  a  13al- 

ircforc  will 
)mo  to  the 
you,  had  it 
Therefore 
prefer  ;  for 
inow  of  no 
•ell  as  he. 
his  mark. 
lis  mark. 
IS  mark, 
ncrk. 

r  Creek  has 
■  my  ])roiec- 
e  been  una- 
ir-Tree  and 
ike  the  boy 
We  ))art, 
e  Cross  In- 
to my  own 

NTER." 


11  gc  on 


the 

ic  oiitniges 

ibiit  Ge- 

luild  miike 

iviiuburse 

ricovcr  and 

ui  (•oni'mi- 
,  that  Big- 


Tree  and  Half-Town  were  about  to  proceed  into  the 
country  of  the  Indians  then  at  war  with  the  United 
States,  upon  an  embassy  of  peace.  An  nrningenient  to 
this  eflect,  which  was  to  include  Cornphinter  also,  had 
been  made  during  the  visit  of  the  chiefs  at  rhiliulciplua. 
Still  it  had  been  judged  advisable  for  Cornphinlcr  him- 
self to  proceed  home  in  tlie  first  instunce,  lor  the  pur- 
pose of  convening  a  general  council  of  the  Six  iXations,  to 
meet  Colonel  Proctor,  in  whose  compnny,  ;uid  for  whose 
protection,  it  was  proposed  that  he  should  iriak(;  his  jour- 
ney among  the  hostile  tril)cs.  The  proccccHngs  under 
this  part  of  the  arrangement  have  been  detailed  in  the 
life  of  Red-Jacket.  The  mission  of  Colonel  Proctor 
was  a  failure, — he  being  unable  to  proceed  among  the 
hostile  Indians.  Yet  at  a  subsequent  period  Cornplanter 
performed  '.he  mission,  at  great  personal  hazard,  but 
without  any  favorable  results.  There  were  many  at  that 
time,  as  in  all  Indian  wars,  who  entertained  floubts  of 
the  fidelity  of  such  Indians  as  professed  friendship  for 
the  whiles,  and  Cornplanter  did  not  escipe  suspicion. 
But  his  sui)se(]ucnt  conduct  showed  that  those  suspicions 
were  mijust.  Among  other  evidences  of  his  integrity, 
a  letter  from  Fort  Franklin  bore  the  following  testimony 
to  his  fidelity  :  "  I  have  only  to  observe  tlint  Cornplan- 
ter has  been  here,  and  in  my  opinion  he  is  iis  friendly  as 
one  of  our  own  people.  He  has  advised  me  to  take 
care;  '  for,' said  he,  'you  will  soon  have  a  chance  to 
let  the  world  know  whether  yon  :on  a  soldier  or  not.' 
\Vlien  he  went  od",  he  ordered  two  v  ;:■  fs  and  ini  war- 
riors to  remain  here  and  scout  ai'oi.!,  'he  garrison,  and 
let  me  know  if  the  bad  Indians  .'bould  tiiher  advance 
n'^iiinst  me,  or  any  of  fhe  fronfier-iof  the  l:  I'mI  States. 
H"  thinks  th(^  people  at  Pit.  jurgh  .diorld  keep  out 
spies  toward  the  silt  licks,  liir  he  says,  by  and  i>v,  he 
tliiuks  the  bud  Indians  will  come  from  that  way.'     An- 


444 


CORNPLANTER. 


m 


m 


^mn 


other  evidence  of  his  good  faith  mn}'-  lie  found  in  the 
following  advertisement,  signed  by  him  and  published 
in  the  same  year, — 1792: — "  iNIy  people  having  been 
charged  with  committing  depredations  on  the  frontier 
inhabitants  near  Pittsl)urgli,  I  hereby  contradict  the  as- 
sertion, as  it  is  certainly  without  foundation.  I  pledge 
myself  to  those  inhabitants,  that  they  may  rest  perlectly 
secure  from  any  danger  from  the  Senecas  residing  r.n  the 
Alleghany  waters,  and  that  my  people  have  been,  and 
still  arc,  friendly  to  the  United  Stales."*  Another  in- 
stance, and  a  painful  one,  goes  to  establish  tlic  same 
truth.  At  or  near  the  time  of  his  departure  on  his  mes- 
sage of  peace  to  the  west,  "  as  dn-ee  of  his  people  were 
travelling  through  a  settlement  upon  the  Genesee,  they 
stopped  at  a  house  to  light  dieir  pipes.  There  happened 
to  be  several  white  men  within,  one  of  whom,  as  the 
foremost  Indian  stooped  down  to  light  his  pipe,  killed 
him  with  an  axe.  Anodier  of  die  party  was  badly 
wounded  with  the  same  weapon,  while  escaping  from  the 
house.  They  were  not  pursued,  and  a  boy  of  the  num- 
ber escaped  unhurt."t  When  Cornplanter  became  ac- 
quainted with  the  foul  transaction,  instead  of  seizing  his 
tomahawk,  and  rushing  at  the  head  of  his  clan  uj)nn  the 
nearest  American  settlement  for  revenge,  he  charged 
his  warriors  to  remain  (juiet,  and  was  heard  only  to 
say  : — "  It  is  hard,  when  I  and  my  people  are  trying  to 
make  peace  for  the  whites,  that  we  should  be  thus  re- 
warded. I  can  govern  my  young  men  and  warriors 
better  than  the  Thirteen  Fires  can  Uieir's!"  This  re- 
buke would  have  done  honor  to  a  Christian  philosopher. 
During  all  the  troubles  of  Uiose  days  between  tlu^  Uni- 
ted States  and  the  Indians,  until  after  the  decisive  vic- 
tory of  Wayne,  and  die  treaty  of  (.ireenville,  Cornplan- 

•   Drnltn. 

t   lili'iu.     T!.!3  poor  woutiiloil  Inilian,  whoii  nlinost  rccotiTcJ  I'loin  ihu  injury, 
v/ai  bittuii  by  a  m-i'puiit,  which  i;aue>U(i  hig  'ininudiulu  dvatli. 


CORNPLANTER. 


4i5 


I  in  the 
iiblislied 
[]rr  V)een 
frontier 
t  the  as- 
I  pledge 
perfectly 
12  en  the 
cen,  and 
other  in- 
ihe  same 
his  mes- 
iple  were 
see,  lliey 
la^jpencd 
11,  iis  the 
pc,  killed 
iis  badly 
I  from  the 
the  num- 
cnme  ac- 
cizinii'  his 
upon  the 
charged 
I  only  to 
trying  to 
ttlu^;  re- 
warriors 
'I'liis  re- 
ilosophcr. 
1  the  Uni- 
•isive  vic- 


rnplan- 


;ui 


uni  ll^u  i«ijury> 


ter  was  ever  neutral,  and  always  the  friend  of  peace. 
His  exertions  to  this  end  are  referred  to  in  the  lite  of 
Brant,  and  more  I'ully  set  forth  in  the  preceding  lile  of 
Red-Jacket.  He  was  present  at  the  several  treaties 
held  with  his  people  by  Colonel  Pickering,  endii.g  with 
that  of  Canandaigua,  in  nOl.  Nothing  farther  is  heard 
of  the  veteran  chief  until  the  treaty  with  Tiiomas  ^lor- 
ris,  held  at  Big  Tree,  in  1797,  when  he  again  appeared 
upon  the  stage  of  action,  as  stated  in  the  former  part  of 
the  present  volume. 

He  had  ever  entertained  a  profound  regard  for  the 
character  of  Washington,  and  on  the  eve  of  the  retire- 
ment of  that  great  man  from  the  public  service,  as  ['re- 
silient, (if  the  I'liitcd  States,  Cornplanter  made  a  special 
visit  to  the  seat  of  the  federal  government,  to  take  an 
official  leave  of  the  great  benefactor  both  of  the  white 
man  and  the  red.  Tlic  following  manly  speech  iVom 
the  forest  chief  was  delivered  on  the  occasion  at  the  in- 
terview : — 

Speech  of  Thi'  Curn/iJartfrr  to  Crncral  WnnJibii^tnn, — Philadcl- 
phUt,  2Sfh  F>J,r>':rif,  1797. 

"  I-'ATnr.u  :  I  thank  flio  ( ireat  Spirit  for  protectiriir  us  tlinniixh 
tlio  Viuioiis  paths  wliicli  wo  have  trod  siiue  I   was  last  at  lliis 

rlaco.  ^\s  I  am  told  ynu  are  ahniit  to  retire  from  jniMic  lnoiness, 
have  eoiiie  to  pay  my  last  address  to  you  as  the  i;ieal  Chief 
of  tlio  I'if'teeii  Fires,  and  am  liappy  to  find  that  1  have  arrived 
here  in  time  to  addri'ss  you  once  more  as  father,  and  lo  adviso 
with  you  on  ihi;  Itusiness  of  our  nation.  \u\\  have  always 
told  ns  tliil  the  land  wiiich  we  live  upon  is  our  own,  and  that 
we  may  make  such  \\m\  oI'  it  us  wo  tliink  most  coiuhicivo  to 
our  own  ciiudurl  and  llie  Inppinttss  of  posterity. 

"  FAriiKii  :  1  wish  whil-.t  I  um  able  to  do  liusiness  to  pro- 
vide for  the  risini;  treiieratlDti.  Our  forefathers  thom^ht  tliat 
tlieir  p(i>rerity  would  pursue  their  tracks,  ami  Mijipoil  them- 
selves hy  tli-'ir  hunts,  as  they  did  in  the  extensive  tlu'cst.->  given 
them  hy  t'.ie  (Jreat  ."spirit,  and  hy  them  transmitted  to  ns.  Hut 
tlio  jfreat  ■(^volution  amontr  th(>  white  ])eople  in  this  eonntiy 
hus  extended  its  inllmuico  to  the  people  of  my  colnr, — turn 
our  fuce-i  which  way  we  will,  wo  lind  tii3  while  pou|>le  culti- 


i 


-m 


■'^jfl^i^m^:: 


440 


CORNPLANTIIR. 


Ill 


'%: 


d  i;]"'" 


^ 


vatirig  tlic  gro  ind  which  our  forefathers  hunted  over,  and  the 
forests  wliich  funiislied  them  witli  plenty  now  alford  but  a 
scanty  subsistence  for  us,  and  our  young  men  are  not  safe  in 
pursuing  it.  Jf  a  i'ew  years  liave  made  sucli  a  change,  what 
will  be  tiio  situation  of  our  children  when  those  calamities  in- 
crease i 

"  F.VTUEii :  To  those  points  I  wish  to  draw  your  attention, 
and  once  inore  to  have  your  candid  and  friendly  advice  on 
what  will  be  best  for  tlie  present  race,  and  liow  we  can  best 
provide  fur  posterity.  Your  ])eopIe  have  a  different  mode  of 
living  from  ours; — tliey  have  trades  and  they  have  education, 
which  enables  them  to  take  different  pursuits;  iiy  which  means 
they  maintain  themselves,  provide  for  their  children,  and  help 
each  other. 

"  Faturr  :  I  am  also  told  that  your  people  have  a  strong 
place  for  their  money,  wlu^re  it  is  not  only  safe,  but  tiia'  it  pro- 
duces them  each  and  e\('ry  year  an  increase  without  lessening 
the  stock.  If  we  .shouM  dispose  of  ))art  of  our  coumry  and 
put  our  moiu^y  with  your's  in  that  strong  place,  will  it  be  safe  i 
Will  it  yield  to  our  v:hildren  the  same  advantages  after  our 
heads  arc  laid  down  as  it  will  at  present  ))n)(hue  lo  us  ?  Will 
it  be  out  of  the  reach  of  our  foolish  young  men,  so  tliat  they 
caiuint  diink  it  up,  to  the  prejudice  of  our  childre!;  ? 

"  Patukr  :  Voii  know  tluit  some  of  our  people  are  to<i  l"ond 
of  strong  drink,  and  1  am  sorry  to  observe  that  y(jur  people 
are  too  apt  to  lay  that  temptation  before  them. 

"  Fathi'.u  :  Tiu' last  tune  I  was  here  I  m(;ntioiu'd  to  you 
that  my  mind  was  un-jasy  in  reg:'id  to  Mr.  Oliver  Phelj)s'3 
purchase,  to  which  you  desired  me  to  make  my  mind  easy, 
an('  said  that  you  would  inuuire  into  the  business.  On  my  le- 
turn  [  met  .Mr.  l'lieli)s  at  Cauandaiifua,  wliiuc  he  profuised  to 
give  me  a  ])icce  of  land  and  to  build  nu-  a  house,  aiid  give  me 
some  cattle.  Willi  this  1  was  satislied.  till  I  saw  him  again 
some  time  after,  wheti  he,  to  my  suipiise,  had  alinnst  f(>rL,)tten 
it, — but  when  1  jiut  him  in  mind  of  it  he  gave  n;o  a  hoise  htiJ 
two  cattle,  but  refused  the  house  and  laiid  because  land  had 
raiseil  so  much  in  value. 

"  FATni;ii :  To  one  thing  m(n*e  I  wish  your  attention  :-^ 
When  I  was  returning  homo  the  last  time  1  was  heie,  I  was 
pluudi'icd  by  some  of  your  unruly  people,  of  several  things, 
am>ugst  which  was  a  paper  given  me  by  Oeneral  Parsons,  en- 
titling me  to  one  mile  S(|uaie  of  land  at  .Muskiui^um,  wliich  I 
hav»!  never  been  ;.ble  to  recover,  and  withoiu  yoiu'  friendly 
assistiiiu'e  must  lose  the  land. 

"  Fai'i-  ;  :  I  mgratidate  you  on  ymir  intended  repose 
from  the  j,:;.gues  ami  anxiety  of  mind  wliich  are  ccmstant  at- 
tendants   )■'  high  j)ublic  ft.'  ,ons, — and  hope  tliat  the  isarae 


CORNPLANTER. 


447 


and  the 
1  but  a 
sate  in 
je,  what 
litiea  in- 

ttention, 
Ivice  on 
can  hest 
mode  of 
hicution, 
•li  mentis 
and  help 


ii^  It  pro- 
Icssi.'iiing 
iiitry  and 
1)0  safe  { 
after  our 
s  ?  Will 
that  they 

;  too  fond 
ur  people 

d  to  you 

riicips's 

liiid  easy, 
)ii  my  le- 
iiised  to 
<rive  me 
111  again 
'i'r>_,')tten 
Dise  iind 
and  had 


f. 


^ntinii  :^— 

Tc,  I  was 

il  tilings, 

^iins,  eii- 

1,  wliicli  I 

friendly 

1  repose 
instant  iit- 
llie  bume 


good  Spirit  which  has  so  long  guided  your  steps  as  a  father  to 
a  great  nation  will  still  continue  to  protect  you,  and  make  your 
private  rclleclions  as  pleasant  to  yourself,  as  your  public  mea- 
sures have  been  useful  to  your  jjeople." 

The  inanuscript  of  the  prccecling  ppcech  has  been 
preserved  among  the  papers  of  Tliomas  Morris.  The 
circumstances  of  this  visit  being  unofficial,  or  ralhcrnot 
being  connected  with  the  public  service,  it  is  not  mentioned 
in  the  Indian  state  p;ipcrs,  and  the  rcph'  of  Washington 
seems  not  to  have  been  preserved.  No  doubt  it  was 
characteristic  of  that  illustrious  man, — considerate  as 
well  as  kii)d. 

Tiie  relations  between  the  United  States  and  the  In- 
dians having  now  been  settled  upon  a  perniancntiy 
paciiic  basis,  the  life  of  Cornplanter  was  no  longer  con- 
nected with  the  general  history  of  the  country.  His 
labors  were  consequently  thencelorward  devoted  to  iiis 
own  people.  Like  his  great  ^[ohawk  contemponry, 
Tliavendanegea,  he  was  anxious  for  the  civilization  and 
moral  and  socialimprovementof  his  race,  and  his  t  Hurts 
w-e  directed  to  that  object.  lie  saw  all  aroinid  him 
the  evils  of  intemperance,  and  exerted  himself  with  zeal, 
in  conjunction  with  his  brother,  CJos-kuk-ke-wa-na-kow- 
ne-di-vu,  the  jjrophet,  to  eilcct  a  reformation  upon  this 
subject.  In  the  course  of  his  exertions  in  this  causi'  he 
made  a  visit  to  President  Jefferson,  in  the  early  part  of 
his  administration,  for  counsel  and  encourageiuent. 
Shortly  al'terwardhe  received  a  beautiful  anil  eharacter- 
istic  letter  from  Mr.  JeHerson,  which,  not  having  been 
elsewhere  pubhshed,  is  here  inserted  :• 

"   W(isMiii!/(»i,  Xurc7)Jtir  3,  l!r'<)2. 
"  Brother  Handsome  Lake  :  I  have  received  the  laessage 
in  writing  which  you  sent  mrough  ('apt.  Irvine,  our  contidea- 

•  The  nutliur  lins  bocn  fuvorod  with  tkr  orisiiml  of  tW  lottiT,  bv  Mr.  Piffce, 
n  yimg  SoiKica  cliii't'of  the  AUoghuny  clan,  to  whom  reforoiici'  ha»  beJurc  been 
made. 


448 


CORNPLANTER. 


m 


$■■■'■' 


tial  agent,  placed  near  you  for  the  purpose  of  eommunicating 
and  Iransactting  between  us  whatever  may  he  useful  lor  both 
nations.  1  am  happy  to  learn  you  have  been  so  far  favored  by 
the  Divine  Spirit,  as  to  be  made  sensible  of  those  tilings  which 
are  for  your  good  and  that  of  your  peoj)le,  and  of  those  which 
aie  hurtful  to  you  ;  and  particularly  that  you  and  they  see  the 
ruinous  effects  which  the  abuse  of  spirituous  liipiors  have  pro- 
duced upon  them.  It  has  weakened  their  bodies,  enervated 
their  minds,  exposed  them  to  hunger,  cold,  nakedness,  and 
poverty;  kept  them  in  perpetual  broils,  and  reduced  their 
j)opulation.  I  do  not  wonder,  then,  brother,  at  your  ctMisures, 
not  only  on  your  own  people,  who  have  voluntarily  gone  into 
tlu'se  fatal  habits,  but  on  all  the  natif)ns  of  white  peo[)le  who 
liave  supplied  their  calls  for  this  article.  Jhit  these  nations 
have  done  to  you  only  what  they  do  among  themselves.  They 
have  sold  what  individuals  wish  to  buy,  leaving  to  every  one  to 
be  the  guardian  of  his  own  health, and  hajipiness.  Spirinious 
]i(]Uors  are  not  in  themselves  bad.  They  are  often  found  to  be 
an  excellent  medicine  for  the  sick.  It  is  the  impr(i])er  and  in- 
temperate use  of  them,  by  those  in  health,  which  makes  them 
injurious  ;  but  as  you  find  that  your  ])eople  cannot  refrain  from 
an  ill  use  of  them,  I  greatly  applaiul  your  resolution  not  to  use 
them  at  all.  \Ve  have  too  affectionate  a  concern  fur  your  hap- 
piness to  j)lace  the  paltry  gain  on  the  sale  of  these  aiticles  in 
competition  with  the  injury  they  do  you  ;  and  as  it  is  the  desire 
of  your  nation  that  no  spirits  should  be  sent  among  them,  and 
1  am  authorized  by  the  great  council  of  tlie  I'nited  States  to 
prohibit  them,  I  will  sincerely  co-operate  with  your  wise  men 
in  any  proper  measures  for  this  purpose  which  shall  be  agreea- 
ble to  them. 

"  V'ou  remind  me,  brother,  of  what  I  have  said  to  you  when 
you  visited  me  the  last  winter,  that  the  land  you  then  held 
would  lenrain  yours,  and  should  never  go  from  you  but  when 
you  should  be  disposed  to  sell.  This  1  now  repeat,  and  will 
ever  abide  by.  We,  indeed,  are  always  ready  to  buy  land  ; 
but  we  will  never  ask  but  when  you  wish  to  sell  :  and  our  laws, 
in  Older  to  protect  you  against  imposition,  have  fnrl)i(l(len  indi- 
viduals to  ])urchase  lands  from  you  ;  and  liave  rendered  it  ne- 
cessary, when  you  desire  to  sell,  even  to  a  state,  that  an  agent 
from  the  I'nite-j  States  should  attend  the  sale,  see  that  your 
consent  is  freely  given,  a  satisfactory  price  paid,  and  report  to 
us  what  has  been  done,  for  our  approbation.  'J'his  was  d(tne 
in  the  late  case  of  which  you  t;nmpluin.  The  dep  'iesof  your 
nation  came  forward  in  all  the  forms  which  we  ha\  i-en  used 
to  consider  as  evidence  of  the  will  of  your  nation.  liiey  pro- 
posed to  sell  the  state  of  New- York  (■erlain  parcels  of  land, 
of  small  extent,  and  detached  from  the  body  of  your  other 
lands.     The  stale  of  New- York  was  desirous  to  buy.     I  sent 


nicating 
i'ov  both 
•orccl  by 
ITS  wbich 
sc  wbich 
f  see  the 
lave  pro- 
iicivatcd 
CSS,  and 
■i>(l  tlioir 
[•(insures, 
none  into 
)ple  Avbo 
(!  nations 
s.     Tliey 
■ry  one  to 

^|)il•itU(lU3 

iiind  to  be 
'V  and  in- 
kes  tbem 
Vain  from 
not  to  nse 
your  bap- 
aiticlcs  in 
tbo  (U'sire 
tlii'in,  and 
States  to 
wise  men 
je  agreea- 

you  wben 
'then  held 

l)ut  when 
I,  and  will 
buy  laud  ; 
1  oui-  laws, 
(ideu  iiidi- 

it-d  it  ne- 
aii  agent 

that   your 
ri'piu't  to 

was  done 

ius  of  your 

(jcn  used 

>  ,iey  l>i'<)- 

s  of  hind, 
Vdur  other 

y.     I  sent 


CORNPLANTER, 


449 


(■'II 


an  advent  in  whom  wc  trust,  to  see  that  your  consent  was  free, 
and  tliu  sale  fair.  All  was  rej)ortt!d  to  be  free  and  fair.  'I'he 
lands  W're  your  property.  The  riglit  to  sell  is  oiic  of  the 
rights  of  jiroperty.  To  forbid  you  the  exercise  of  tiiat  right 
Would  lie  a  wrong  to  your  nation.  Nor  do  1  think,  lirother, 
that  the  sale  of  hinds  is,  under  ail  circuitistjuiccs,  injurious  to 
your  p{!o|)le  ;  while  they  de|)ended  (jii  huuting,  the  more  ..'Xten- 
sive  tlu;  forests  aroutul  tiieiu,  the  more  game  they  would  yield, 
ibit,  goin'4  into  a  state  of  agriculture;,  it  may  he  as  advantageous 
to  a  society  as  it  is  to  an  individual  who  has  more  land  than  ho 
can  improve,  to  sell  a  part  and  lay  (tut  the  moutsy  in  stocks  and 
implemtmts  of  agriculture,  for  the  better  improvement  of  th6 
residiu'.  A  little  land,  well  stocked  and  improved,  will  yield 
a  grtiat  deal  more  witliout  stock  or  impniveimuit.  1  hojie, 
therefore,  that,  on  further  retleotion,  you  will  see  this  transaction 
in  a  more  favorable  light,  i)oth  as  it  concerns  the  interest  of 
your  nation,  and  the  e.\ercise  of  that  supiuinteiiiling  care 
which  I  ,1111  sincerely  anxious  to  employ  for  their  subsistence 
and  hapjiiiiess.  Go  on,  then,  brothiu",  in  the  great  reformation 
you  ha\e  undertaken.  I'ersiiade  oui'  reil  men  to  Ik;  solu'r  and 
to  cultivate  their  lands  ;  and  tlieir  women  to  s[)iii  and  weave 
for  their  families.  Vou  will  soon  see  your  women  and  (  hil- 
dren  well  fed  and  clothed  :  your  iiuMi  living  happily  in  peace 
and  pleniy,  and  your  numbers  increasintr  from  year  to  year. 
It  will  lie  a  irniat  glory  to  you  to  have  been  tlie  instrument  of 
so  happy  a  change,  and  your  children's  (diildreii,  from  geiiera- 
tiiui  to  'jTeiieration,  will  rejntat  your  name  with  love  and  grati- 
tude f(U' ever.  In  all  your  enterprises  for  tin?  good  of  your 
people  you  may  count  with  contidi;nce  on  the  aid  and  protec- 
tion of  the  I'nited  Stales,  ami  on  tin;  sincerity  and  zeal  with 
which  1  am  animated  in  the  furthering  of  this  humane  woik. 
You  are  our  Itrethreu  of  the  same  land  ;  we  wish  your  juos- 
perity  as  brethren  should  do.    Farewell ! 

(Signed,)         "  Tii.  Ji:i  ri:uso.\." 

It  w;is  ill  the  course  of  these  labors  for  the  moral  olo- 
vatioii  ot  Ills  people,  thiit  Cornphmter  bei.Tiiiic  iiiv(jlvccl 
in  the  coiite.st  tor  the  a.-seeiKliiiicy  witli  J{.C(l-.Jii(.'kct,  as 
related  iit  large  in  the  life  of  the  orator.  Tiicre  hid 
never  been  nny  good  will  between  them  since  the  ln;ity 
of  Fort  tStanwix  ;  and  the  eflbrl  now  made  by  (Jorn- 
plantcr  to  regain  the  inHuenec  he  had  lost  through  the 
intrigues  and  suinlety  of  his  rival,  by  means  of  the  pre- 
tended visions  and  revelations  t)f  his  brother,  the  prophet, 

67 


M 


W    ' 


■-") 


:j'^ 


U\i 


••M'  ji 


%:  Hi^; 


450 


CORNPLANTER. 


having  signally  failed,  as  heretofore  stated,  the  old  war- 
chief  remained,  during  the  residue  of  his  extended  life, 
in  retirement  and  comparative  obscurity.  The  residence 
of  ills  clan  was  upon  the  banks  of  the  Ai.«'ghanj',  and 
its  tributaries,  the  Oil  and  Connewango  creeks,  partly 
within  the  liounds  of  New-York,  and  pai  :]y  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. The  legislature  of  the  latter  state  having  niiido 
him  a  special  grant  of  land  on  the  Alleghany,  about  seven 
miles  below  iis  junction  with  the  Connewango,  Cornplan- 
ter  removed  thither  and  continued  there  to  reside,  culti- 
vating a  large  larm,  until  the  day  of  hi    death. 

In  the  year  ^^\<'>,  the  late  Rev.  Timothy  Aldcn,  then 
President  of  All<'u;hany  College,  mad*;  a  visit  to  the  t)ld 
chief,  whom  he  savs  he  found  on  the  b;inks  of  the  AUe- 
ghany  on  a  piece  of  lirst-rate  bottom  land,  a  little  within 
the  limits  of  Pennsylvania.     He  was  the  owner  of  thir- 
teen Imndrcd  acres  of  land,  upon  six  hundred  of  which 
stood  his  village,  exhibiting  the  signs  of  industrious  in- 
habitants.    "  Jt  was  grateful,"  remarked  Dr.  Alden  in 
his  journal,  "to  notice  the  present  agricultural  habits  of 
th(;  place,  from  the  numerous  enclosures  of  buckwheat, 
corn  and  oats.     We  als(j  saw  a  numl)er  of  oxen,  cows, 
and  horses  ;  and  many  logs,  designed  l()r  the  saw-mill, 
and   the  Pittsburgh  market."      The  chief  wiis  a  pro- 
fessing Christian,  and  hailed  with  joy  the  visits  of  his 
fellow  Christians.     He  was  delighted  with  the  arrival  of 
Dr.  Alden,  and  lost  not  a  moment  in  welcoming  him  to 
his  vilhige,  and  insisted  on  waiting  upon  him  in  person. 
He  had  inany  of  his  people  under  his  commnnd,  but  he 
preferred  serving  his  visitor,  and  even  cutting  and  bring- 
ing iiom  the  lield  the  forage  for  his  hcjrse,  himself.     The 
Western  Missionary  Society  at  that  time  were  sustaining 
a  school  in  Cornplanter's  village,  which  Dr.  Alden  de- 
scribed as  being  in  a  condition  promising  good  success. 
One  of  his  sons,  Henry  O'Bail,  had  been  educated  in 


It 


COIlNrLANTMR. 


451 


the  old  war- 
jttendcd  life, 
he  residence 
rghaii}',  and 
reeks,  partly 
■  in  I'eniisyl- 
laviiiif  riKido 
,  about  seven 
;o,  Cornplan- 
reside,  eulti- 
ath. 
Aldcn,  then 
sit  to  the  old 
of  the  AUe- 
i  littlu  within 
)\vner  of  thir- 
red  of  which 
idustrious  in- 
I)r.  Aldeu  in 
iral  hahits  of 
biK'kwheat, 
f  oxen,  cows, 
the  saw-mill, 
w;is  a  pro- 
visits  of  his 
the  arrival  of 
[)niinf>;  him  to 
lim  in  person, 
njand,  l)ut  he 
ngand  bring- 
limsclf.     The 
ere  sustaining 
^r.  Alden  de- 
good  success. 
I  educated  in 


Philndclpliia  ;  but  on  returning  to  his  people  lie  became 
a  drunkard  and  was  discarded  i)y  his  liitiier.  He  after- 
wnrd  attached  himself  to  the  Piigan  {tnrty  uniler  Ked- 
Jacket.  Cornplanter  had  other  sons,  but  he  resolved 
that  no  more  of  them  should  be  C(hicated  among  the 
whites,  since,  as  he  said,  "it  entirely  spoils  Indiiin  !"• 
Notwiiiist;inding  his  profession  of  Christianity,  Corn- 
planter  was  very  superstitious.  "  Not  long  since  he  said 
the  Good  Spirit  had  told  him  not  to  hiive  any  thing  to  do 
with  the  whites,  or  even  to  preserve  any  mementos  or 
relics  that  had  from  time  to  time  been  given  to  him  by 
the  pide-faces  ;  —  wherouptii  mong  other  tilings,  he 
burnt  up  his  belt  and  brok*       ^  elegant  sword." 

From  the  time  of  Dr.  Ala<    '«  visit  until  the  month  of 
Februnry,  1S22,  die  name  "  extraordinnry  man  is 

found  in  connexion  with  no  public  event.  It  appears 
that  in  lS21-':2:2,  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  attempted  to 
exact  a  tax  from  Cornplnntor  and  his  [leoplo.  The  blood 
of  the  chief,  though  chilled  liy  tiie  cold  nf  iilmost  a  hun- 
dred winters,  became  warm  again.  Such  a  demand 
never  liaving  been  made  of  him  before,  he  conceived  it 
to  be  not  only  milawful,  but  a  personal  indignity.  He 
therefore  resisted  payment,  and  f)nly  submitted  when 
the  civil  offi  .-ers  appeared  and  were  ;il)()ut  to  enforce 
their  demand  with  fire-arms.  The  tax  was  then  paid, 
whereupon  Cornplanter  applied  to  the  governor  of  the 
state  for  a  redress  of  the  grievance,  in  the  following  letter 
not  actuidly  written,  but  entirely  dictated  by  himself. 
It  is  worth  preserving,  not  only  as  it  relates  to  the  sub- 
ject in  dispute,  but  as  a  curious  piece  of  Indian  auto- 
biography : — 

"  Alleghany  River,  2d  Mo.  2(1, 1822. 
"  I  fool  it  my  duty  to  send  ;i  spoecli  to  tlio  (ri)verrior  of 
Pennsylvania  at  this  time,  and  iiifonn  him  llie  place  where  I 
wa."  from, — which  was  Conewaugus,  on  the  Genesee  River, 

*  Judgo  E.  T.  Foutc,  of  Clmutauiiuc,  as  citoJ  by  Drake. 


1:'! 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporator! 


33  WIST  MAIN  STRUT 

WIBSTERNY    14SB0 

(716)  ■73-4503 


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■^' 


452 


CORNPLANTER. 


M 


m 


"  When  I  was  a  child,  I  played  with  the  butteifly,  the  grass- 
hopper and  tlie  frogs.  As  I  grew  up,  1  began  to  pay  some 
attention,  and  play  with  the  Indian  boys  in  the  neighborhood, 
and  they  took  notice  of"  my  skin  being  a  difi'erent  color  from 
theirs,  and  spoke  about  it.  I  inquired  of  my  mother  the  cause, 
and  she  told  me  that  my  father  was  a  residenter  in  Albany.  I 
ate  still  my  victuals  out  of  a  bark  dish — 1  grew  up  to  be  a 
young  man,  and  married  me  a  wife,  but  I  had  nokctih;  or  gun. 
I  then  knew  where  my  father  lived,  and  went  to  see  liini,  and 
found  he  was  a  white  man,  and  sj)oke  the  English  hinguage. 
He  gave  me  victuals  while  I  was  at  his  house,  but  when  1  started 
to  return  home,  he  gave  mc^  no  ])rovlsion  to  eat  on  the  way.  He 
gave  me  neither  kettle  nor  gmi,  neither  did  he  tell  me  that  the 
United  States  were  about  to  rebel  against  the  government  of 
Engliind.  * 

"  1  will  now  tell  you,  brothers,  who  are  in  session  of  the 
legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  that  the  Great  Spirit  has  made 
known  to  me  tliat  1  have  been  wicked  ;  and  the  cause  thereof 
was  the  revolutionary  war  in  America.  The  cause  of  Indians 
having  been  led  into  sin,  at  that  time,  was  that  many  of  them 
were  in  the  practice  of  drinking  and  getting  intoxicated.  Cireat 
Britain  re(juested  us  to  join  with  them  in  the  conllict  against 
the  ^Vmericaus,  and  promised  the  Indians  land  and  liquor.  I, 
myself,  was  opposed  to  joining  in  the  contli<  i,  as  !  had  nothing 
to  do  with  the  ditliculty  that  existed  between  the  two  [)arties. 
1  have  now  informed  you  how  it  happened  that  the  Indians 
took  a  part  in  the  revolution,  and  will  relate  to  you  some  cir- 
rumstances  tliat  occurred  after  the  close  of  the  war.  (ieneral 
I'litiiam,  who  was  then  at  I'hiladelphiii,  told  mo  there  was  to 
be  a  council  at  Fort  Stanwix,  and  the  Indians  re(|Ui'sted  me  to 
attend  on  behalf  of  the  Six  Nations,  which  1  did,  and  there 
mi't  with  three  conmiissioners,  who  hud  been  appninted  to  hold 
th(>  council.  They  told  me  they  would  int'oini  me  of  the  cause 
of  the  revolution,  which  I  re([uested  them  to  do  minutely. 
They  then  said  that  it  had  originated  on  account  of  tlie  heavy 
taxes  that  had  been  imposed  upon  them  by  the  Ihitish  govern- 
ment, which  had  been  for  fifty  years  increasing  upon  them; 
that  th(!  Americans  had  grown  weary  thereof,  and  refused  to 
pay,  which  allionled  the  king.  There  had  likewisi:  u  difhculty 
taken  place  abtjut  some  tea,  which  they  wished  nu'  not  to  use,  as 
it  hud  l»een  oiu^  of  the  causes  that  many  ])eople  had  lost  their 
lives.  i\nd  the  Ibitish  government  now  being  allicmled,  the 
war  coimiieni'ed,  and  the  camions  bi-gan  to  roar  in  our  country, 
(ieneral  I'ntnam  then  told  tne  at  the  council  at  l''orl  Stanwix, 
that  by  the  lato  war  the  Americans   had  gained  two  objects ; 

*  Tliis  |)nrui:raph  imii  bpcn  already  quutod,  a*  chronologically  bcluiiging  to  the 
opoiiing  ut'  thu  proarnt  bkrtcli. 


CORNTLANTER. 


453 


the  grass- 
pay  some 
rhborhood, 
cdloi'  from 
the  cause, 
Vlbany.  I 
p  to  be  a 
ttle  or  gun. 
e  him, and 
1  hiuguage. 
>n  1  started 
i  way.  He 
ne  that  the 
(jninient  of 

iion  of  tlie 
has  made 
use  fheieof 
of  Indians 
ny  of  them 
ilt'd.  Cireat 
lict  against 
li(|iior.     I, 
lail  nothing 
;\vo  parties, 
tlic  Indians 
I  some  cir- 
(ieneral 
lore  was  to 
sted  me  to 
.  and  there 
itcil  to  liold 
('the  cause 
minutely. 
1"  the  lioavy 
i>h  govcrn- 
iptm  tliem ; 
rctiiscd  to 
a  diihculty 
lot  to  use, as 
lust  their 
rciiiii'd,  the 
lur  country, 
rt  Stanwix, 
,\d  objects ; 

'lousing  to  the 


they  had  estahlished  themselves  an  independent  nation,  and 
had  obtained  some  land  from  Great  Britain  to  live  >ipon,  the 
division  line  of  which  ran  through  the  lakes.  I  then  spoke, 
and  said  that  I  '"■anted  some  land  for  the  Indians  to  live  on, 
and  (icneral  Putnam  said  that  it  should  be  granted,  and  that  1 
shoidd  have  land  in  the  state  of  New- York  for  the  Indians. 
General  Putnam  then  encouraged  me  to  use  my  endeavors  to 
pacify  the  Indians  generally;  and  as  he  considered  it  an  ar- 
duous task  to  perlbrin,  wished  to  know  what  I  wanted  as  pay 
therefor  ?  I  I'eplied  to  him,  tliat  I  would  use  my  endeavors  to 
do  as  he  had  reipiested  with  tiie  Indians,  and  for  ])ay  tlier(;of,  I 
would  take  the  land.  1  told  him  not  to  ])ay  me  money  or  dry 
goods,  but  land.  And  for  having  attended  tliereto,  I  received 
the  tract  of  land  on  ^vhich  I  now  live,  which  was  presentcMJ  to 
me  l)y  Governor  Mifflin.  I  told  General  Putnam  that  I  wislied 
the  Indians  to  have  tlie  exclusive  privilege  of  the  deer  and  wild 
game,  which  he  assented  to. 

"  'I'lie  treaty  that  was  made  at  the  aforementiontul  cotmcil 
has  been  broken  by  some  of  the  white  jjcople,  which  L  n(nv 
intend  acquainting  tlie  governor  with.  Some  white  people  are 
not  willing  that  Indians  should  hunt  any  moro,  wliilst  otliers 
are  satisfied  theri'with  ;  and  those  white  people  who  reside 
near  our  reservation,  tell  us  that  the  wo(»ds  are  theirs,  and 
they  have  obtained  them  from  the  governor.  The  treaty  has 
been  also  brok(!ii  by  the  while  people  using  their  endeavors 
to  destroy  all  the  wolves,  which  was  not  s))oken  about  in  the 
council  at  Fort  Stanwix,  by  Cieneral  Putnam,  but  has  originated 
lately. 

"  It  has  been  broken  again,  which  is  of  recent  origin.  AVhite 
people  wish  to  get  credit  from  Indians,  and  do  m  t  pay  them 
honestly,  according  to  their  atrroement. 

"  In  another  respect  it  has  also  been  broken  by  white  peo- 
ple, who  reside  near  my  dw(,'lliiig ;  for  wiien  I  plant  melons 
and  vines  in  my  tic-Id,  they  take  them  as  theii  own.  It  has 
been  broken  a'j;ain  by  white  j)eople  using  their  endeavors  to 
obtain  our  ))ine  trees  from  us.  A\'e  have  very  lew  pino  trees 
on  our  land,  in  the  state  of  New- York  ;  and  white  pijople  and 
Indians  often  t^et  into  disputt'  respecting  tliein.  Tiiere  is  also 
a  great  (piantity  of  whiskey  brought  near  our  reservation  by 
white  people,  aiul  the  Indians  obtain  it  and  become  drunken. 

"  .Another  circumstantM!  has  taken  ]ilac«)  wlTu  h  is  very  trying 
tome,  and  I  wish  the  interference  of  the  gnxcriior,  'I'he  white 
people  who  live  at  Warren,  called  upon  me  sometinu-  ago,  to 
pay  taxes  for  my  land,  which  I  objeH'ted  to,  as  I  had  never  been 
called  upim  i'or  that  purpose  bel'ore  ;  antl  having  retiised  to 
pay  the  white  people  became  irritated,  called  u[ion  me  fre- 
quently, and  at  length  brought  four  gtms  with  them  and  seized 
our  cattle.     1  still  refused  to  pay,  and  was  not  willing  to  let 


'I 


454 


CORNTLANTER. 


M'' 


I;  .  1; 


the  cattle  go.  After  a  long  dispute  tliey  returned  home,  and  I 
understood  the  militia  was  ordered  out  to  enfbi'ce  the  collection 
of  tlic  tax.  I  went  to  Warren,  and,  to  avert  tlic  impending 
difficulty,  was  obliged  to  give  my  note  for  the  tax,  tlie  amount 
of  which  was  forty-three  dollars  and  seventy-nine  cents.  It  is 
my  desire  that  the  governor  will  exempt  me  from  paying  taxes 
for  my  land  to  white  people  ;  and  also  cause  that  the  money 
1  am  now  obl'TCd  to  pay,  may  be  refunded  to  me,  as  I  am 
very  poor.  The  governor  is  the  person  who  attends  to  the 
situation  of  the  people,  and  I  wish  him  to  send  a  person  to 
Alleghany,  that  1  may  inform  him  of  the  particulars  of  our 
situation,  and  he  be  authorized  to  instruct  the  white  people  in 
what  manner  to  conduct  themselves  toward  the  Indians. 

"  The  governor  has  told  us  that  when  any  difficulties  arose 
between  the  Iiulians  and  white  people,  he  would  attend  to 
having  them  removed.  We  are  now  in  a  trying  situation,  and 
I  wish  the  governor  to  send  a  person,  authorized  t(  attend 
thereto,  the  forepart  of  the  next  summer,  about  the  time  that 
grass  has  grown  big  enough  for  pasture. 

"  The  governor  formerly  recpiested  me  to  pay  attention  to 
the  Indians,  and  take  care  of  them.  We  are  now  arrived  at  a 
situation  that  I  believe  Indians  cannot  exist,  unless  the  governor 
should  comply  with  my  request,  and  send  a  person  authorized 
to  treat  between  us  and  the  white  people,  the  ajiproaching 
summer.     I  have  now  no  more  to  speak." 

The  appeal  was  not  in  vain.  An  act  was  passed  liy  the 
legislature  of  Pennsylvania,  exonerating  the  cliief  from 
the  tiix,  and  two  commissioners  rcj)aired  to  his  village  to 
exphiiu  the  matter  to  him.  He  met  them  at  the  court- 
house in  Warren,  a  town  of  I'ennsylvania  situated  at 
the  junction  of  the  Connewango  Creek  and  tlie  Alleghany, 
on  which  occasion  he  delivered  the  following  speech, — 
excellent  of  its  kind,  and  eminently  characteristic  of  his 
race  : — 

BuoTUKiis  :  Yesterday  was  appointed  for  us  all  to  meet  here. 
The  talk  which  the  governor  sent  us  jileased  us  very  much.  I 
think  that  the  Grent  S])irit  is  very  much  pleased  that  the  white 
people  have  been  induced  so  to  assist  the  Indians  as  they  have 
done,  and  that  he  is  ])leas('d  also  to  see  the  great  men  of  this 
state  and  of  the  United  States  so  friendly  to  us.  We  are 
much  pleased  with  what  has  '  »en  done. 

"  The  (ireat  Spirit  llrst  "^  the  world,  and  next  the  flying 

aniroals,  and  found  all  thin^    _  /od  and  prosperous.     Ho  is  im- 


Ui 


CORNPLANTER. 


455 


me,  and  I 
;ollection 
npentling 
e  amount 
Its.  It  is 
dng  taxes 
le  money 
as  1  am 
ds  to  the 
person  to 
rs  of  our 
people  in 
ns. 

ties  arose 
attend  to 
ation,  and 
t(  attend 
time  that 

tention  to 
rived  at  a 
;  governor 
luthorized 
proaching 


d  by  the 
liicf  from 
village  to 
he  court- 
uatod  at 
leghany, 
)oech, — 
lie  of  his 


neet  here, 
nuich,  I 
tlie  white 
they  have 
|uH  of  this 
We  are 

tlie  flying 
lie  is  im- 


mortal and  everlasting.  After  finishing  the  flying  animals,  he 
came  down  on  earth  and  there  stood.  Tlien  he  made  diflerent 
kinds  of  trees,  and  weeds  of  all  sorts,  and  peo[)le  of  every 
kind.  He  made  the  spring  and  other  seasons,  and  tlie  weather 
suitable  for  planting.  These  he  did  make.  Hut  stills,  to  make 
whiskey  to  be  given  to  Indians,  he  did  not  make.  The  (iieat 
Spirit  bids  me  tell  the  wiiite  people  not  to  give  Indians  this 
kind  of  li(]Uor.  When  the  Great  Spirit  had  made  the  earth 
and  its  animals,  he  went  into  the  great  lakes,  where  he  breathed 
as  easily  as  any  where  else,  and  then  made  all  the  different 
kinds  of  fish.  The  Great  Spirit  looked  back  on  all  that  he 
had  made.  The  diflerent  kinds  he  made  to  be  separate,  and 
not  to  mix  with  and  disturb  each  other.  liut  the  white  people 
have  broken  his  command  by  mixing  their  color  with  the  In- 
dians. The  Indians  luive  done  better  by  not  doing  so.  The 
Great  Spirit  wishes  that  all  wars  and  fightings  should  cease. 

"  He  next  told  us  that  there  were  three  things  for  peo])lc 
to  attend  to.  First,  we  ought  to  take  care  of  our  wives  and 
children.  Secondly,  the  white  j)eople  ought  to  attend  to  their 
farms  and  cattle.  Thirdly,  the  Great  Spirit  has  given  th(»  bears 
and  (leers  to  the  Indians.  He  is  the  cause  of  all  things  that 
exist,  and  it  is  very  wicked  to  go  against  his  will.  The  (Jreat 
S})irit  wishes  me  to  intnrui  the  people  that  they  should  i|uit 
drinking  intoxicating  drink,  as  being  the  cause  of  diseases  and 
death.  Ho  told  us  not  to  sell  any  more  of  our  lands,  for  he 
never  sold  lands  to  any  one.  Some  of  us  now  keep  the  seventli 
day;  but  1  wish  to  ([uit  it,  for  the  C! real  Spirit  made  it  for 
others,  but  not  fur  the  Indians,  who  ought  every  day  to  attend 
ti>  their  business.  He  has  ordered  me  to  (juit  drinking  any  in- 
toxicating drink,  and  not  to  lust  after  women  but  my  own,  and 
informs  mo  that  by  doing  so  I  should  live  the  longer.  He 
made  known  to  ..ne  that  it  is  very  wicked  to  tell  lies.  Let  no 
one  suppose  this  I  have  said  now  is  not  true. 

•'  1  have  now  to  thank  the  governor  for  what  he  has  done.  I 
have  infornu'd  Inm  what  the  Great  Spirit  has  ordered  me  to 
cease  from,  and  I  wish  the  governor  tf>  inform  others  of  what  I 
have  communicated.     This  is  all  I  have  at  present  to  say." 

It"  there  arc  any  farther  rncmorials  of  the  lite  of  Corn- 
planter,  they  liavc  cscapeil  the  researches  of  the  author. 
The  old  chief  appears  to  have  again  fallen  back  into  en- 
tire .seclusion,  taking  no  part  even  in  the  polities  of  his 
people,  which,  owing  to  the  conduct  of  Keil-Jacket,  and 
the  dissensions  coucerning  him,  were  not  of  the  most 


45G 


CORNrLANTER. 


quiet  description,  until  the  close  of  his  eartlily  career. 
He  died  at  his  residence,  on  the  7th  of  Mnrch,  1S3G,  at 
the  age  of  one  hundred  years  and  upward.  His  last 
speech,  at  Warren  court-house,  discloses  a  curious  com- 
bination in  his  mind  of  the  history  of  the  creation,  and 
of  the  rudiments  both  of  Indian  and  Christian  theology. 
Whether,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  he  expected  to  go  to 
the  fair  hunting  grounds  of  his  own  people,  or  to  the 
heaven  of  the  Cliristian,  is  not  known. 


HENRY    O'BAIL. 

The  name  of  this  chief,  the  son  of  Cornplanter,  has 
been  mentioned  a  few  pages  back,  and  also  several 
times  in  the  life  of  Red-Jacket.  He  was  a  boy  of  fine 
spirit  and  promise,  and  his  father  sent  him  to  Philadel- 
phia for  the  benefit  of  an  English  education,  under  the 
charge  of  the  Quakers,  who  placed  him  in  a  suitable 
school,  and  directed  his  studies.  A  few  anecdotes  and 
traditions  arc  related  by  way  of  illustrating  his  cha- 
racter. 

He  was  not  only  received  in  good  society  in  I'hiladel- 
phia,  but  was  caressed.  On  one  occasion,  l)eing  at  a 
ball,  while  dancing  with  a  beautiful  girl,  tlie  jealousy  of 
one  of  the  young  gentlemen  present  was  excited,  and 
he  gave  vent  to  his  vexation  by  muttering  the  dislike  he 
felt  at  seeing  the  young  lady  "  dance  with  a  d d  In- 
dian." The  quick  ears  of  young  Harry  caught  the 
sound,  and  after  the  figure  was  ended,  having  invited 
the  angry  swain  to  the  head  of  the  stairs,  ho  thrust  him 
out,  and  opposing  his  foot  to  his  seat  of  lionor,  gave  an 
impulse  that  sent  him  headlong  down.  "  There  !"  said 
he;  "you  may  now  boast  that  you  have  been  kicked 
down  stairs  l»y  a  d ^d  Indian  !" 

Another  story  is  told  respecting  him,  of  a  more  senti- 


,.(!! 


YOUNG  CORNPLANTER. 


457 


cnreer. 
1S3G,  at 
His  last 
)us  com- 
ion,  and 
heology. 
lo  go  to 
)r  to  the 


nter,  has 
i  several 
y  of  fine 
i'liiladel- 
inder  the 

suitable 
lotes  and 

'us  cha- 

Philadel- 

inp  <at  a 

I  lousy  of 

ited,  and 

1  si  ike  he 

-d  lu- 
ll o]  It   the 
iuvited 
rust  him 
giive  an 
!"  said 
kicked 

jrc  scnti- 


mental  character  ; — rather  too  sentimental,  in  fact,  to  be 
in  keeping  with  the  usual  stoicism  of  his  race.     "  Har- 
ry," says  the  narrator,  '*  had  been  too  long  the  wild  boy 
of  the  mountains  to  be  pleased  with  confinement,  or 
bear  patiently  his  monotonous  exercises.     He  wasted 
and  pined  till  he  became  pale  and  emaciated.     Possess- 
ing not  that  spirit  of  reserve  and  laconic  manner  of 
speech,  so  characteristic  of  the  Indian,  he  was  courte- 
ous and  kind, — exercising  a  suavity  of  manner  peculiar 
in  the  forest  chieftain.     '  My  sister,'  he  would  say  em- 
phatically, '  my  sister  is  not  here,  and  there  is  another 
who  is  not  with  me.'     He  thirsted  for  the  bright  waters 
of  his  native  valley,  and  longed  to  breathe  once  more  the 
pure  air  of  the  Alleghanies.      The  crowded  streets  of 
the  city  had  no  charms  for  him.     He  staj^ed  but  a  few 
months,  and  bursting  from  his  confinement,  bounded 
back,  with  the  alacrity  of  a  wounded  deer,  to  the  green 
mountain  haunts  of  his  boyhood,  the  sweet  tones  of  his 
sister,  and  the  gentle  cooings  of  his  forest  dove.     The 
following  year,  Mr.  N *,  a  gentleman  from  Philadel- 
phia, who  had  known  the  young  chief  there,  came  on 
an  errand  of  agency  to  our  country,  where  he  has  since 
resided.     Having  no  acquaintance  here,  and  feeling  a 
deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  young  friend,  he 
penetrated    through   the    dark   wilds    of    Poticr    and 
M'Kean,  and  soon  found  himself  at  the  village  of  the 
Cornplanter.      Harry    welcomed    him    cordially,   pre- 
senting him  to  his  father,  his  sister,  and  bis  friends, — 
but  there  was  a  sadness  visible  in  his  countenance,  a 
quick  restlessness  in  his   movements,  which  betrayed 

how  deep  were  the  workings  within.     Mr.  N then 

asked  him  for  the  gentle  dove  he  had  described  to  him> 
in  days  gone  by.  '  She  is  gone ;'  said  he, — and  he  led 
him  to  her  jrave.  Here  Harry,  after  the  custom  of  the 
whites,  had  planted  flowers ;  not  the  forget-me-not,  nor 


■  li  i 


11 
i?Ji  'I 


if. 

'ill  I 


111 


iSi; 


458 


YOUNG  CORNPLANTER. 


the  rose,  nor  the  myrtle,  but  pale  spring  violets,  refresh- 
ing them  with  his  tears,  and  breathing  from  this  hal- 
lowed spot  his  invocations  to  the  Great  Spirit."* 

The  subsequent  career  of  Henry  O'Bail  but  ill  ac- 
corded with  such  a  gentle  and  pensive  beginning.  He 
opposed  his  father's  efforts  for  the  moral  and  social  im- 
provement of  his  race,  and  even  attached  himself  to  the 
adherents  of  his  father's  bitterest  enemy  and  successful 
rival,  Red-Jacket, — becoming  ultimately  very  dissolute 
and  intemperate.  He  was,  nevertheless,  a  brave  man, 
and  did  good  service  in  the  Niagara  campaign,  during 
the  last  war  with  England,  under  General  Porter.  Ho 
was  at  one  period  a  man  of  handsome  property.  Hav- 
ing squandered  this,  he  removed  from  the  Seneca  reser- 
vation to  Tonnewanta.  Shortly  afterward  a  tradesman  to 
whom  he  had  contracted  a  debt,  for  which  he  had  given 
his  note,  meeting  with  him  at  a  public  house,  took  the 
note  from  his  pocket,  and  asked  for  his  pay.  Henry 
taking  the  note  into  his  hand  and  looking  at  it  for  a  mo- 
ment, inquired  of  the  holder, — "  This  is  a  good  note,  is 
it  not?"  "  Why,  certainly  it  is,"  replied  the  creditor. 
*'  Then  you  had  better  keep  it,"  coolly  answered  the 
Indian,  handing  it  back  with  all  possible  gravity.  The 
note  was  never  collected,  and  Henry  died  not  long  after- 
ward,— a  miserable  drunkard.  Alas,  for  the  poor  In- 
dian !     His  arrow  is  broken ! 


i"^*' 


if  ,  *• ' 


BLACK-CHIEF'S    DAUGHTER. 

The  proverbial  stoicism  of  the  Indians  has  been  re- 
ferred to  in  the  preceding  brief  sketch  of  the  young 
Complanter,  as  casting  a  shade  of  doubt  over  the  ro- 
mantic incident  furnished  by  the  lady  of  Wellsborough, 
connected  with  an  affair  of  the  heart,  and  the  untimely 

*  MS.  letter  from  Misa  Jackson,  of  Well>iborougli,  (Pa.) 


BLACK-CHIEF'S  DAUGHTER. 


459 


! 


,  refresh- 
this  hal- 


It  ill  ac- 
ing.  He 
ocial  im- 
elf  to  the 
successful 

dissolute 
ave  man, 
jn,  during 
rter.     Ho 
y.     Hav- 
eca  reser- 
ve sman  to 
had  given 
;,  took  the 
\    Henry 
for  a  mo- 
3d  note,  is 
J  creditor, 
vered  the 
ity.     The 

ong  after- 
poor  In- 


ER. 

been  re- 

the  young 

er  the  ro- 

sborough, 

untimely 


^a.) 


death  of  the  object  of  his  attachment.  And  yet  these 
apparently  moody  sons  of  the  forest  arc  not  always  so 
insensible  to  the  finer  feelings  of  the  common  race  of 
Adam,  when  acting  by  and  for  themselves,  as  most  of  the 
pale-faces  suppose  them  tu  be.  Mr.  Washington  Irving,  in 
his  prairie-rambles,  has  said,  as  other  writers  before 
and  since  have  done,  that  the  Indians,  in  their  own  circles, 
have  their  wits  and  their  humorists,  and  indulge  in 
their  pleasantries,  their  jokes,  brisk  repartees  and  merry- 
makings, as  well  as  the  whites.  Why,  then,  should  they 
be  thought  insensible  to  the  thrill  of  the  tender  passion, 
and  incapable  of  feeling  acutely  the  pangs  of  sorrow  ? 
The  anecdote  of  Henry  O'Bail  and  his  betrothed  wood- 
land nymph,  if  true,  illustrates  one  division  of  the  inter- 
rogatory. A  marked  illustration  of  the  other  is  afforded 
by  the  touching  story  of  Black-Chief's  Daughter. 

Forty  years  ago,  Black-Chief  was  Sachem  of  the  clan 
of  Senecas  residing  at  Squawky-Hill,  in  the  valley  of 
the  Genesee  River.  He  was  famous  for  his  skill  and 
bravery  in  war,  and  the  pursuits  of  the  chase,  and  withal 
endeared  to  his  people  by  his  amiable  temper  and  gene- 
rous qualities.  After  his  death  his  clan  honored  with 
their  esteem  an  only  daughter  of  the  chief,  remarkable 
for  her  beauty  and  intelligence,  and  resembling  her 
deceased  father  in  native  goodness  of  heart.  Indeed,  so 
highly  was  she  regarded  that  by  a  formal  decree  in 
council,  notwithstanding  her  extreme  youth,  she  was 
clothed  with  the  authority  of  a  princess.  The  brightest 
fish  from  the  waters,  the  sweetest  flowers,  and  th^  . i;:hest 
and  rarest  fruits  of  the  forest,  and  the  proudest  tro  uiies 
of  the  hunt,  were  left,  in  reverence,  at  the  door  of  her 
wigwam.  Old  men  prayed  daily  to  the  Great  Spirit  that 
her  years  might  be  long  in  the  land  ;  for  their  hoary  seer 
had  assured  them  that  during  her  lifetime  the  ancient 
glories  of  the  Senecas  would  be  in  part  restored. 


f  , 


a. 


;■    ■ 


h  \  Ml, 


w 


.11 


■M 


460 


BLACK-CHIEF'S  DAUGHTER. 


But  as  with  the  white  man,  so  with  the  Indian,  it  is 
well  that  the  future  is  a  sealed  book.  A  mahgnant  fe- 
ver which  had  nearly  depopulated  the  flourishing  village 
of  Connewaugus,  extended  its  ravages  to  Squawky-Hill. 
The  strong  man  was  laid  low, — woman  grew  pale,  and, 
with  the  infant  at  her  bosom,  perished.  The  dog  howled 
over  the  festering  carcass,  and  hunger,  in  alliance  with 
the  fell  distemper,  filled  the  cup  of  misery  to  overflow- 
ing. In  vain  every  precaution  was  taken  to  avert  the 
blow  from  the  head  of  their  beloved  princess.  After  the 
panic  had  in  a  great  measure  abated,  and  signs  of  re- 
turning health  became  visible,  the  destroyer  entered  her 
lodge,  and  amid  wails  of  grief,  and  groans  of  despair, 
proceeding  from  a  hundred  lips,  her  young  heart  was 
stilled  for  ever. 

When  a  distinguished  individual  expired,  it  was  the 
custom  of  the  Senecas  to  deposite  the  remains  in  a  simple 
structure  of  unhewn  logs,  called  "  The  Cabin  of  Death." 
Eut  such  was  their  enthusiastic  afltction  for  the  chief- 
tainess,  that  they  departed  from  this  ancient  rite  by 
erecting  a  high  scaffold  in  a  neighboring  grove.  After 
adorning  the  body  with  beads,  shells,  feathers,  and  other 
barbaric  ornaments,  they  placed  it  in  an  upright  posture 
on  the  rude  throne  they  had  thus  upreared.  A  drum,^ 
formed  of  the  untanned  hide  of  a  deer,  drawn  tensely 
over  a  section  of  the  hollowed  trunk  of  a  tree,  cut  to  a 
proper  length,  and  beaten  upon  by  a  war-club,  gave  out 
its  dull  and  dismal  note,  while  men,  women  and  chil- 
dren, moved  in  a  slow  and  solemn  dance  around  the 
dead. 

To  the  Seneca  towns  of  Tonnewanta,  Connewaugus 
and  Caneadea  fleet  runners  hastened  with  the  melan- 
choly tidings,  and  the  principal  men  of  those  places  ac- 
companied them  back  to  take  part  in  the  sorrowful  cere- 
monies.    Garlands  of  flowers,  ears  of  corn  and  valu- 


•1. 


BLACK-CHIEF'S  DAUTTGTER. 


401 


ian,  it  is 
^nant  fe- 
g  village 
/ky-Hill. 
ale,  and, 
<y  howled 
ice  with 
jverflow- 
ivert  the 
After  the 
lis  of  re- 
tered  her 
'  despair, 
eart  was 

was  the 

1  a  simple 

f  Death." 

he  chief-' 

t  rite   by 

i.     After 

md  other 

t  posture 

A  drum» 

1  tensely 

cut  to  a 

gave  out 

and  chil- 

Dund  the 

ewaugus 
e  melan- 
aces  ac- 
■ful  cere- 
nd  valu' 


able  furs  were  thrown  n  profusion  nt  the  feet  of  the  life- 
less object  of  their  idolatry.  By  night,  fires  were  lighted, 
and  watchmen  were  stationed  to  guard  the  luiUowcd 
spot,  and  keep  the  gaunt  wolf  at  a  distance.  And  every 
morning  the  solemn  rites  of  the  preceding  day  were 
renewed.  After  a  partial  decomposition  of  the  body 
had  taken  place,  it  was  removed  and  committed  to  the 
earth  with  tears  and  loud  lamentations.* 

But  these  rites  were  not  peculiar  to  the  Scnccas,  or 
to  the  Five  Nations.  The  Chippewas,  who  pitch  their 
tents  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Superior,  proudly  cnlled  the 
"  Father  of  Waters,"  and  other  nations  of  the  great 
northwest,  honor  their  dead  with  obsequies  somewhat 
similar.  It  has  indeed  been  conjectured  that  the  Chip- 
pewas derived  their  picturesque  funeral  observances 
from  the  Iroquois,  with  whom  they  often  met  in  conflict, 
for  they  were  enemies  of  old,  notwithstanding  the  vast 
wilderness  that  separated  their  hunting-grounds.  Nade- 
wa-we-gu-nung,  in  INIichigan,  nine  hundred  miles  from 
the  great  council  fire  at  Onondaga,  was  the  scene  of  a 
terrific  battle  between  them  "  long  time  ago."  On  the 
death  of  a  sachem,  or  other  person  of  note,  the  Chippe- 
was, after  dressing  the  body  in  the  vestments  of  the  liv- 
ing, and  by  the  aid  of  colors  extracted  from  plants  and 
clay  having  given  a  life-like  appearance  to  the  counte- 
nance, deposite  the  relics  on  two  cross-pieces  nailed  or 
tied  with  thongs  to  four  posts  set  firmly  in  the  ground. 
With  pious  veneration  they  plant  near  the  poles  or  posts 
the  gadding  wild-hop,  or  the  Haunting  woodbine,  in  or- 
der that  the  revolting  process  of  decay  may  be  rendered 
less  offensive  by  the  refreshing  verdure  of  vegetable 
beauty,  and  in  a  short  time  the  corse  is  thickly  em- 

♦  This  little  naiTativo  was  \vritt(>n  down  from  llio  lips  of  Mis.  Hostncr,  nf 
Avon,  who,  reared  as  it  were  atnidsl  the  Seaecas,  was  ac(iuainied  with  the  facts, 
and,  I  believe,  with  parties. 


Ill 


'I 


*)■■; 


462 


BLACK-CHIEF'S  DAUGHTER. 


bowerecl  with  leaves  and  flowers.  There  is  something 
strikingly  poetical  in  these  simple  rites  of  the  untutored 
savage.  While  the  enlightened  pale-face  yields  to  the 
sunless  custody  of  the  tomb  the  beautiful  and  brave, 
his  wild  brother  of  the  woods  mourns  over  the  loved 
and  the  lost  with  a  lasting  sorrow,  and  deems  it  hard  to 
cast  into  the  cold  embrace  of  the  earth 


(111      I  M  , 


ii'" 


<  I 


<  I      I 


"  Countenances  benign, — and  forms  that  walked 
But  yesterday  so  stately  o'er  the  earth."* 

Glowing  are  the  histories  of  departed  monarchs  lying- 
in  gilded  j)omp,  while  in  the  crowns  that  rounded  their 
cold  temples 


-"  Kept  Death  his  court, 


Scoffing  their  state,  and  grinning  at  their  pomp," — 

•—of  Inez  de  Castro,  disinterred  and  arrayed  in  the  glit- 
tering trappings  of  royalty ; — but  where  is  the  heart  that 
would  not  be  less  touched  by  those  descriptions  of  the 
learned  narrators  than  by  the  unstudied  recital  of  the 
simple  funereal  honors  paid  by  the  Senecas  to  the  beloved 
daughter  of  Black-Chief.'' 


*  See  Heckewelder's  description  of  Indian  funerals.  Transactions  of  Philadel- 
phia Philosophical  Society,  for  much  interesting  matter  upon  this  subject.  Also, 
Lewis  and  Clarke's  Expedition.  The  Indians  suppose  that  when  the  soul  is 
separated  from  the  body,  it  preserves  the  same  inclinations  which  it  had  when 
both  were  united.  Hence  they  bury  the  implements  of  war  and  the  chase  with 
their  bodies,  and  bring  provisions  to  the  grave.  Some  of  the  Indian  nations  be- 
lieve in  the  transmigration  of  souls, — especially  of  the  souls  of  those  who  die 
young,  and  who  therefore  have  the  privilege  of  commencing  a  second  life,  be- 
cause they  enjoyed  so  little  of  the  first.  Hence  children  are  buried  along  the 
highways,  that  the  women,  as  they  pass,  may  receive  their  souls.  From  this 
idea  of  their  remaining  with  the  body  arises  the  duty  of  placing  food  upon  their 
graves ;  and  mothers  have  been  seen  to  draw  from  their  bosoms  that  nourishment 
■which  those  little  creatures  loved  when  alive,  and  shed  it  upon  the  earth  which 
covered  their  remains. — Charlevoix. — Dr.  jarvia's  Historical  Discourse. 


something 
untutored 
Ids  to  the 
,nd  brave, 
the  loved 
it  hard  to 


I :  h 


irchs  lying 
nded  their 


n  the  glit- 
heart  that 
ons  of  the 
ital  of  the 
je  beloved 


ns  of  Philadel- 
ubject.  Also, 
ten  the  soul  is 
I  it  had  when 
the  chase  with 
ian  nations  be- 
;hose  who  die 
Bcond  life,  be- 
ried  along  the 
9.  From  this 
od  upon  their 
it  nourishment 
e  earth  which 
Discourse. 


i 


APPENDIX. 


APPENDIX. 


[A.] 

The  dopntation  sent  from  the  Six  Nations  as  messenrrers  of  noare 
to   he  imstiio  Indians  at  the  Miami  „f  the  lakes,  in  ,hc   auU  mn  of 
1,!L',  returned  ,n  IVoven.ber.     (ie.ieral  (^hapin,  fl  e  a-rent  T   oV^ 
Canons,  uas  absent  at  the  seat  of  ffovernnlent  ^vhen^hev    e  trne^ 
a  .1  tl,e  ,o„n,Mi  to  receive  the.r  report  wa.   called  by  his   son     s  aol 
hapn,    .Inn.     It  was   held  at  IJutfalo  Creek,  on  ihe'Ki  h  o    S,'.  vem 
ber  and  uas  attended  by  -Major  I.ttlehales  n.   behalf  of   (io  on    ; 
^e      m;.'    r"  /•'"":";"'^'"f-'  '"  f'l'Per  Canada.     The  folioumjr  e 

uueqlrelerl"  '''^"'*''''""'  '''  '•^''''^'^^d  '"'"  English  by  Mr.  I'ansh,  the 

T]K..TnKKs,-PEo..r.K  OF  TI.K  Hmt,:,.  States,  anp  Kin.-s  I',  .^  , 
take  «.  ,c,..'-Last  umter  the  President  took  ns  by  ,be  han.l,  a       5 

^hX  t::rr^  "?  "^  '''"'-l^'l''-'  ^  "--  they  inade  knm^n  1  ns 
their  fnendship.  an.l  re.mested  us  to  proceed  to  he  westward  -..id  to 
use  onr  i,  Inence  toniake  peace  with'the  hostile  India.l  V  l .? 
accordingly,  and  made  known  to  them  our  agreement 

V.  hen   we  rettn-iied  Iron.   I'hiiadelphia  to  Bntilalo  Creek,  the  chiefs 

hat  ren.ained  at  home  on  their  seat..-,  were  well  pleas,,    u  th     1    t 

we  haddouo  at  Philadelphia  ;  and  after  we  had  detennuied  to     ..'eed 

on^our  journey,  some  ol  our  chiefs  were  detained  on  accou.tt  'of  sick- 

H.ioTHKKs,-l'Eoru.:  ok  the  United  States  ANn  Kinh's  PF..r,  f  •_ 
Alter  we  arrived  at  the  westward,  we  met  with  an  afrreeable  recep- 
tion ;  they  mtormed  us  we  were  their  ol.lest  bn.ther.s  and  appeared 
as  the  sun  risen  on  them,  as  tliey  always  looked  t.,  them  f.,r  advice 

I  IS  now  lour  years  since  we  have  heard  your  voices,  and  should 
be  iFippy  now  to  hear  what  you  have  to  relate  to  us. 

he  hi.v  \ations  then  requested  of  (he  western  Jn.lians  what  they 
had  to  relate  to  them,  as  they  kindled  the  council  lire.  ^ 

I  he  Ukstek.n  iM.rANs  replied:  About  four  years  since,  your 
voices  came  to  us,  desiring  us  to  combine  ourselves  to.rother,  as  we 

s;nr;'tir'°  '"'-  *"^"^'  ^-^  ^^  ^^  -  -^-'  ^^  - 

69 


ii^u' 


46G 


APPENDIX. 


This,  they  informed  us,  they  had  attended  to,  and  exhibited  a  large 
bunch  of  waiiipuni,  to  prove  the  same,  from  each  nation. 

To  confirm  it  still  further,  they  informed  us  wo  sent  them  a  pipe, 
which  passed  ihrougii  all  the  nations  at  the  west  and  southward  ;  all 
smoked  out  of  it,  hotli  women  and  children  ;  and  as  this  pipe  has  l)ceii 
throuo'h  the  nations,  and  all  smoked  out  of  it,  they  returned  it  to  us, 
and  bid  us  to  smoke  out  of  it  ourselves. 

BuoTiiKus  :  Listen  once  to  your  eldest  brothers.  (Jur  forefathers 
have  handed  down  to  us,  that  we  are  one  i)eople,  of  one  color,  on  this 
island,  and  ouirjit  to  be  of  one  mind,  and  had  made  our  minds  strung, 
and  had  become  as  one  people  in  peace  and  friendship. 

This  being  done,  our  chiefs  agreed  to  hand  it  down  to  future  jioste- 
rity,  and  the  same  combination  to  continue  down  to  them. 

The  nation  called  the  Unions,  took  a  brand  from  our  tire  and  kindled 
it,  and  became  a  peo|)le  with  us  ;  then  we  considered  ourselves  as 
one  people,  combined  together. 

And  now  there  is  a  white  people  on  this  island,  who  are  watching 
our  conduct  ;  but  let  us  attend  to  our  own  concerns,  and  brighten  the 
chain  oi  Iriendship  with  our  nations  ;  and  as  our  minds  are  one,  let 
us  consider  future  |)osterity  and  not  consider  those  young  warriors 
who  are  in  the  prime  of  lite,  and  so  much  engaged  in  the  pursuit  of 
land,  &c.,  which  is  tiie  cause  of  so  nmch  difficulty  at  present. 

BuoTiiEHs  :  Consider  your  country,  which  is  good,  and  conduct 
yourselves  in  such  a  maimer  as  to  keep  it  to  yourselves  and  pos- 
terity. 

Now,  Bi!()Tm:i;s  :  Vou  present  us  the  pipe, — you  say  your  eldest 
brotiiers  sent  you  ;  you  say  your  head  chiefs  all  smoked  out  ot'  it,  and 
returning  it  to  us  again,  all  took  it  and  smoked  out  of  it  ourselves,  in 
friendship.  Now,  as  wc  are  thus  combined  together,  we  are  able  to 
lift  a  heavy  burden. 

Thk  HiiAWANKF.  Nation  said  : — Ouk  klpest  BnoTiiniis  :  Wo  liave 
heard  what  you  have  related, — 've  have  heard  it  with  attention;  we 
consider  it  as  if  yon  delivered  it  from  the  outside  of  your  lips ;  although 
you  consider  us  your  younger  brothers,  your  seats  are  not  at  such  a 
dif^tance  but  what  we  can  see  your  conduct  plainly;  these  are  the 
reasons  why  we  consider  you  to  speak  from  the  outside  ol  your  lips ; 
for  whenever  you  hoar  the  voice  of  tiie  United  States,  you  imniedi- 
atoly  take  your  jiacks  and  attend  our  councils. 

\Ve  see  plainly  loldod  under  your  arm  the  voice  of  the  rnited 
States, — wish  you  to  untold  it  to  us,  that  we  may  see  it  treely  and 
consult  on  it. — [Sjieaking  on  a  string  of  wampum  of  three  strings, 
throwing  it  across  the  tire  to  us,  instead  of  handing  it  in  a  Iriendly 
manner.] 

[Then  wo  proceeded  to  relate  the  instructions  of  congress,  which  ia 
too  tedious  to  relate,  and  which  they  already  know  ;  but  when  we 
first  related  it  we  tailed  lor  interpreters,  so  that  they  had  not  a  jiroper 
idea  ot  it  ;  they  a|i|ieareil  to  be  very  much  rutiied  in  their  minds,  and 
adjourned  the  counsel  to  th(!  next  day  ;  then  it  was  inlerpretcd  pro- 
perly to  them,  and  they  appeared  easy  in  their  minds.  | 

Hi.DKsr  nitoTiiKiis :  \'ou  desire  us  to  consider  our  country  and 
property;  we  will  accept  of  your  advice,  and  (iroceed  accordingly. 

The  Six  iNaiio.ns  said: — Let  us  look  bark  to  the  time  of  white  peo- 
ple coming  into  tins  country;  they  very  soon  began  to  trullic  lor  land. 


I  'i   ;■ 


ArPENDIX. 


467 


Soon  ni'ter,  Sir  William  Joiinson  was  sent,  as  an  ajrent  from  the  king, 
and  lio  hpyan  to  purchase  at  the  'rcaty  at  Fort  Stanwix,  and  purchased 
all  east,  ot  tiie  nvcr  Ohio. 

A  tew  years  after  this  purchase,  the  people  of  the  States  and  the 
kino's  people  broke  apart,  and  we  heintf  persuaded  to  take  the  kinjr's 
part,  became  very  bad  for  us.  After  a  few  years,  tlie  kinir  was  beat ; 
then  the  States  took  possession  of  all  the  land  the  English  formerly 
took  from  the  French. 

Vou  tell  us,  we  come  with  the  voice  of  tiie  United  .States;  we  do, 
together  with  the  advice  of  the  king.  He  tells  us  not  to  throw  our 
nniids  on  either  side,  but  to  listen  to  reason,  &c.,  and  remain  a  people 
confederated. 

Tjii;  Siiawaxf.e  Nation, — Now  kt.dest  Brothers  :  Vou  come  to 
lis  with  your  opinion,  and  the  voice  of  the  United  States.  It  is  your 
mind  to  put  an  end  to  all  hostilities.  Brothers  :  now,  we  will  relate 
what  took  place  last  fall  in  our  country.  Cieneral  NN'ashinirtoii  sent 
an  ai'my  into  our  country,  which  fell  into  our  hands;  th(Mr  orders 
were  thus, — to  proceed  into  our  country  as  far  as  the  Miami  towns,  to 
the  (ilai/.e  ;  thence  to  Detroit,  but  not  to  molest  the  kinir's  ])eo])le,  and 
if  the  army  should  meet  any  people  that  a])i)earcd  friendly,  to  leave 
them  behind  their  backs,  without  harm. 

The  President  of  the  L'nited  States  must  well  know  why  the  blood 
is  so  dee])  in  our  paths.  We  have  been  itiformed  he  has  sent  messen- 
n;ers  of  peace  on  these  bloody  roads,  who  fell  on  the  way.  And  now, 
as  he  knows  that  road  to  be  bloody,  no  coinmiuiication  can  fake  place 
throu<ih  thai  bloody  way,  as  there  is  a  path  throuifji  the  Si.\  Nations' 
country,  which  is  smocth  and  easy.  If  he  wants  to  send  the  voice  of 
peac(\  it  nuist  jjass  throufjh  this  road. 

Ei.oKsr  BuoiMEits:  We  have  been  infcjrmed  the  President  of  the 
I'luted  Slates  flunks  himself  the  greatest  man  on  this  island.  We  had 
this  country  long  in  peace  before  we  saw  any  person  of  a  white  skin  ; 
we  consider  the  people  of  a  white  skin  the  younger. 

Bkotiieks:  \'ou  inform  us  it  is  the  wish  of  the  white  people  to 
hold  council  with  us,  (leneral  Washington  being  the  headman;  we 
will  consent  to  treat  with  them  ;  we  desire  you,  our  older  brothers,  to 
inform  (ieneral  Washington  we  will  treat  with  him,  at  the  Rapids  of 
JMiami.  ne.vt  sprinir,  or  at  the  time  when  the  leaves  are  lully  out. 

W(>  consider  ourstdves  still  the  proper  owners  of  sonu!  land  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Ohio. 

But  we  will  deliver  up  that,  for  money  that  has  been  paid  to  some 
individuals,  for  land  on  the  west  side  of  the  River  ( )liio. 

Uitoiiii.Rs  :  \'ou  have  have  given  us  a  dish,  and  one  sjioon,  desiring 
the  whole  combination  to  eat  with  them  ;  we  accept  of  them,  and  shall 
do  accordingly. 

We  are  now  about  to  compl(;te  the  business  yi>ii  came  on.  When 
you  return  you  will  make  known  to  the  I'resident  what  uc  have  done  ; 
It  may  be  lie  will  not  consent  to  what  we  have  |tropose<l  ;  and  if  he 
will  not,  we  must  call  on  you  to  assist  in  the  heavy  burden  that  will 
lie  on  \is.  We  have  o|)ened  a  path,  and  poiiit(;d  out  a  way,  and,  if  he 
will  not  walk  in  it.  we  must  iiave  your  assistance. 

.\o\\,  (MR  KLPicsT  Brothers  :  When  the  I'resident  came  to  you, 
lie  took  you  aside  to  hear  what  he  had  to  say.  lie  desired  you  t« 
couie  to  us  and  deliver  the  messages  ;  you  have  delivered  thciii,  and 


!' 


468 


APPENDIX. 


,'l       1 


f       f 


we  desire  you  to  deliver  the  messages  we  have  given  you  to  deliver 
to  him,  and  desire  him  to  send  a  message  back  what  he  will  do  con- 
cerning what  we  have  done  and  concluded  on  ;  to  forward  it  to  you, 
and  you  to  us.  We  will  lay  the  bloody  tomahawk  aside  until  we  hear 
from  the  President  of  the  United  States,  and  when  this  message  comes 
to  us,  we  will  send  it  to  all  the  different  nations.  (Speaking  on  three 
strings  of  wampum.) 

Speech  from  the  Six  Nations  to  the  President. 

You  sent  us  on  the  westward  with  a  message  of  peace  to  the  hostile 
Indians. 

We  proceeded  accordingly  to  your  directions,  and  was  protected, 
going  and  coming,  by  the  Great  Spirit.  We  give  thanks  to  the  Great 
Spirit  that  we  have  all  returned  safe  to  our  seats. 

While  we  were  at  the  westward  we  e.xerted  ourselves  to  bring  about 
peace.  The  fatigues  we  underwent  are  not  small.  Now,  it  is  our 
desire  for  your  people  on  the  Ohio  to  lay  down  their  arms,  or  otherwise 
it  is  all  in  vain  wiiat  we  have  done. 

Now,  if  you  wish  for  peace,  you  must  make  every  exertion,  and 
proceed  through  this  path  we  have  directed  for  you.  If  peace  does 
not  take  place  tlie  tault  must  arise  from  your  people. 

Wo  now  desire  you.  Brothers,  to  send  forward  agents,  who  ore  men 
of  honesty,  not  proud  land-jobbers,  but  men  who  love  and  desire 
peace.  Also,  desire  they  may  be  accompanied  by  eonie  Friend  or 
Quaker  to  attend  the  council. 

We  wish  you  to  e.xert  yourselves  to  forward  the  message  to  the  wes- 
tern Indians  as  soon  as  possible  ;  and  we  are  taken  by  the  hand,  and 
have  agreed,  ne.\t  spring,  to  attend  the  council  at  the  Rapids  of  Miami, 
when  we  shall  hear  all  that  takes  place  there. 

Hostile  Indians  to  Governor  Simcoe. 

Brother  :  We  have  been  informed  the  late  governor  is  a  good 
man  ;  we  desire  that  you  will  take  the  governor  by  the  hand  and  lead 
him  to  the  council  next  spring.  Exert  yourselves  to  get  him  u|),  that 
he  may  not  bo  backward  ;  that  he  may  sit  side  and  side  with  the 
Americans  at  the  time  of  the  council.  And  when  you  take  him  by 
the  hand,  desire  him  to  furnish  us  with  provisions  necessary  for  the 
treaty. 

Six  Nations  to  the  Governor. 

Brother  :  Now,  we  have  laid  all  our  proceedings  before  you, 
which  took  j)lace  at  the  westward.  You  have  heard  the  reijuost  of 
your  western  brothers,  therefore  wish  you  to  exert  yourself  to  grant 
their  rociuests. 

Vou  informed  us  to  listen  to  the  voice  of  peace,  wherever  we  might 
hear  it.  Now  we  hear  the  voice  of  peace  ;  we  call  on  you  for  assist- 
ance, that  we  may  obtain  peace  through  this  island. 

Brother:  We  now  sit  here  together  ;  you  are  t  ho  man  who  re- 
presents the  United  States  ;  we  have  discerned  that  too  great  a  degree 
of  pride  has  subsisted  between  the  two  govermnents  ;  we  desire  tliat 
it  may  be  laid  aside. 

When  the  agents  from  the  United  States  come  forward  to  the  coun- 


APPENDIX. 


I  to  deliver 
ill  do  con- 
1  it  to  you, 
til  we  hear 
■sage  comes 
ig  on  three 


I  the  hostile 

3  protected, 
)  the  Great 

hring  about 
,v,  it  is  our 
ir  otherwise 

:ertion,  and 
peace  does 

•ho  are  men 

and  desire 
>  Friend  or 

•  to  Oie  wes- 
e  hand,  and 
]s  of  Miami, 


is  a  good 

nd  and  lead 

ini  nj),  tiiat 

witli  the 

ke  iiiin  by 

;ary  tor  the 


before  you, 
rc(iucst  of 
If  to  grant 

we  nnght 
u  for  assist- 

m   who  re- 
cat  a  (iegreo 
desire  that 

to  the  coun- 


4G9 


cil,  we  desire  they  may  bring  forward  all  the  records,  plans,  maps,  and 
documents,  that  any  way  respect  the  lands  purchased  from  tlie  Indians. 

Fish-Carrier^ s  Speech. 

Desiring  this  degree  of  pride,  which  has  heretofore  existed,  may  be 
done  away,  and  that  each  government  may  mutually  consent  and 
agree  on  terms  of  peace. 

Cornplanter^s  Speech. 

He  informs,  that  he  has  always  attended  treaties  that  have  been  held, 
and  has  always  wished  for  peace,  and  has  done  all  in  his  power  for 
peace  ;  tiiat  he  has  not  advised  any  hostilities  to  commence  on  either 
side,  and  now  wishes  each  government  to  lay  aside  all  pride  and  preju- 
dice and  to  use  tlicir  endeavors  for  peace. 

After  the  council  was  over.  Major  Littlehales,  who  represented 
Governor  Sinicoe  on  that  occasion,  answered  the  Indians  as  follows  : — 

Bkothei!s  :  I  shall  lay  before  the  governor  your  reipiests  ;  and 
respecting  his  furnishing  you  with  provisions,  &c.,  I  doubt  not  but  lie 
will  do  it  agreeable  to  your  wishes.  And  also  to  procuri  il  records, 
plans,  and  documents,  which  shall  be  thought  necefccar  .  and  to  do 
every  thing  in  his  ])o\ver  to  bring  about  a  peace,  so  interesting  to  the 
United  States,  as  well  as  to  the  British  government. 


[B.] 
THE  PRESQUE  ISLE  QUESTION. 

At  a  council  of  the  Six  Nations,  held  at  Buffalo  Creek,  on  the  18th 
of  June,  17!)4,  ('a|)tain  O'Bail  (Cornplanter)  spoke  as  follows  in 
behalf  of  the  Indians  : — 

Broth EK  :  We  are  fiiankful  that  you  have  attended  to  t'le  call  of  the 
Six  Nations,  and  that  you  have  been  preserved  by  the  Great  Spirit,  &c. 

Brother  :  (Addrossed  to  the  President)  I  have  tor  a  long  time 
aimed  at  tho  good  of  both  parties, — 1  have  paid  you  dirtbrenl  compli- 
ments, as  that  of  brother  and  father,  and  now  1  call  you  friend. 
We  were  ))lo;iscd  when  we  heard  that  you  were  appointed  to  have  the 
chief  coinmand  of  the  United  States. 

Bkotiieh:  The  Groat  S|)irit  has  so  ordered,  that  every  nation  shall 
have  some  one  to  be  at  their  head — you  are  to  look  over  your  jwople, 
and  settle  all  ditlicultics — and  we,  tlie  Six  Nations,  expect  that  you 
will  not  be  umiiindful  of  us,  but  see  that  we  have  justice  done  us,  as 
well  as  your  own  |ioo|)lf'. 

Brother  :  Wo,  tiie  !^  \  Nations,  now  call  upon  you  ;  wo  pay  no 
attention  to  what  has  heretofore  been  done  by  congress  ;  their  pro- 
ceedings we  consider  as  unjust.  We  wish  for  nothing  but  justice, 
and  iiope  that  will  take  place. 

Brother  :  Vou  know  our  demands — we  ask  but  for  a  small  piece 
of  land,  and  we  trust  as  you  are  a  great  man,  you  can  easily  grant  our 
reiiucst. 

Brother  :  You  wish  to  be  a  free  peojile  in  this  country,  who  have 
come  from  the  other  side  of  the  water,  and  why  should  not  we,  whoso 


470 


ArPENDIX. 


nm  1 


if  t 


hi  1 1' 


il'-  "i, 


forefathers  have  lived  and  died  here,  and  always  had  possession  of  the 
country. 

BaornEK  :  We,  the  Six  Nations,  have  determined  on  the  boundary 
we  want  established,  and  it  is  the  warriors  wlio  now  speak. 

Brother  :  You  have  tlie  map  on  which  the  boundaries  are  marked 
out  which  we  want  established. 

Bkothkr  :  We  want  room  for  our  children.  It  will  be  hard  for  them 
not  to  have  a  country  to  live  in  after  that  we  are  <fone. 

BitoTiiER :  It  is  not  because  that  wr  are  afraid  of  dyino' that  we 
have  been  so  lonir  trying  to  bring  about  a  ponce.  Wc  now  call  upon 
you  for  an  answer,  as  congress  and  tiieir  connnissioners  have  oftentimes 
deceived  us,  and  if  these  difficulties  are  not  removed,  the  conse(iuences 
will  be  bad. 

Tiiis  speech  was  delivered  with  eight  strings  of  black  and  white 
wami)uni. 

Brother  :  We  have  opened  tiiis  fire  upon  two  different  kinds  of 
business — we  wish  you  to  listen  to  them  with  attentioti. 

BiiOTHER  :  We  are  in  distress — a  number  of  our  warriors  are  mis- 
sing, and  we  know  not  what  has  become  of  them,  but  suppose  that 
thoy  have  been  killed  by  the  Americans. 

liiioTHER :  Last  fall  an  Indian  chief  by  tiie  name  of  Big-Tree,  left 
this  country  and  went  to  the  American  army  in  a  friendly  manner,  and 
wc  have  since  been  informed  that  he  was  killed  by  them. 

Hkuther  :  The  other  day  a  very  unfortunate  circumstanco  happened. 
One  of  our  nephews  (of  the  Delaware  nation,)  was  killed  at  Venango, 
by  a  party  of  warriors  who  were  going  to  I'resque  Isle,  without  giving 
us  any  notice  whatever. 

Brother  :  You  are  sensible  this  must  be  very  hard,  to  l-ave  a  man 
killed  in  timo  of  peace — one  who  was  sitting  easy  and  peac  jable  on  his 
seat — you  certainly  would  complain  if  we  were  to  treat  your  peopie  in 
the  same  manner. 

Brother  :  It  has  been  customary,  when  one  person  has  killed  an- 
other,  that  those  who  have  done  the  injury  go  to  the  injured  party  and 
make  satisfaction. 

Brother  :  We  told  you  that  we  had  two  pieces  of  business  to  at- 
tend to, — we  hope  that  you  will  ])ay  attention  to  tliom  both. 

Brother  :  The  establishing  a  garrison  at  l'res(iue  Isle  may  occa- 
sion many  accidents,  as  the  southern  Indians  may  do  injury,  and  we 
may  be  blamed  without  a  cause. 

This  speech  was  delivered  with  ten  strings  of  black  wampum. 


Captain  O'Bail  then  addressed  himself  to  Captain  CIia|)iii  : — 

Brd'i  HER  :  When  we  sent  for  you,  it  was  because  we  ])laced  great 
dependiMice  upon  you, — we  hoped  that  you  would  not  tail  of  doing 
every  tliuig  in  your  power  to  assist  us. 

Brothi:r  :  We  now  ex])ect  that  you  will  exert  yourself  in  removing 
those  ])coi)lo  off  of  our  lands.  We  know  very  well  what  they  have 
come  oil  lor,  and  we  wish  them  pushed  back. 

Bi;uTrii:R  :  We  now  wish  that  you  rmd  Mr.  .Tohnson  would  goto- 
gether  and  remove  those  people  back  over  the  line  which  we  have 
marked  out  upon  tlie  map. 

BiiuTiiEK :  If  these  people  remove  off  inunediately  we  shall  con- 


f'w 


il^i 


APPENDIX. 


471 


;ion  of  the 

boundary 

•e  marked 

d  for  them 

ijv  that  we 

call  upon 

oftentimes 

secjuences 

and  white 

t  kinds  of 

•s  are  mis- 
ppose  that 

-Tree,  left 
lanner,  and 

■  happened. 
t  Venango, 
lout  giving 

ave  a  man 
able  on  his 
ir  peopie  in 


killed  an- 
party  and 


less  to  at- 

niay  occa- 
y,  and  we 

ipum. 

11  : — 

ared  great 
of  doing 

1  removing 
tliey  have 

)lll(l   go  to- 
ll we  have 

shall  con- 


sider them  as  our  friends, — if  not,  we  shall  consider  them  as  no 
friends. 

Bkotoek  : — We  expect  that  you  and  Mr.  Johnson  will  go  together 
on  this  busiiioi^s,  and  we  shall  send  ten  warriors  to  attend  you  ;  and 
we  siiail  expect  that  you  will  bring  us  word  when  you  return. 

Tiiis  speech  was  delivered  with  si.x  strings  of  black  and  white 
wampum. 

General  Chapin's  answer  to  the  speech  delivered  by  Capiain 
O'Bail  :— 

Brothkhs  :  I  have  heard  the  speeches  which  you  have  delivered 
with  great  attention,  and  have  thought  seriously  on  what  you  have 
communicated  to  me.  Vou  have  re(|uested  me  to  go  to  l'ros(jue  Isle, 
— as  I  wish  to  do  every  thing  in  my  power,  botii  for  the  United 
States  and  the  Indians,  I  shall  comply  with  your  re(]uest. 

Brothers  :  1  can  do  no  iriore  to  those  i)eoplc  than  to  give  them  my 
advice.     It  is  not  in  my  power  to  drive  tiiem  ot^l 

Brothers  :  Y'ou  must  be  sensible  that  1  am  obliged  to  l<;ok  to  the 
interests  botli  of  the  United  Htates  and  the  Indians,  and  consider  my- 
self accountable  to  both  for  whatever  I  do  ;  and  you  may  depend  that 
when  I  return,  I  will  give  you  a  just  account  of  whatever  takes 
place. 

Brothers  : — This  business  is  of  a  serious  nature,  and  is  really  a 
matter  of  importance  to  liotii  parties.  You  may  rest  assured  tlint  the 
President  is  your  friend,  and  that  lie  will  })ay  attention  to  the  business 
which  you  have  laid  before  him. 

Brothers  :  Yvix  observed  that  you  would  send  ten  warriors  to  at- 
tend me.     1  must  also  recjuest  that  you  would  send  two  of  your  chiefs. 

Brothers:  The  business  which  you  desire  me  to  do,  is  what  I  had 
little  thought  of.  I  am  unprepared  for  the  journey ;  however,  as  I 
have  informed  you  that  I  would  go,  I  shall  set  out  immediately. 

Brothers  :  The  s])eeches  wiiich  you  have  delivered  for  tiie  Presi- 
dent, shall  be  sent  on  as  soon  as  is  convenient,  and  you  niay  shortly 
expect  to  receive  an  answer. 

General  Chapin  to  the  Secretary  of  War  : — 

Canandaigiia,  July  10,  1794. 

Dear  Sir, — The  evening  before  I  returned  my  son  arrived  in  this 
place.  He  brought  letters  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  which  men- 
tion nolhing  to  counteract  any  of  our  proceedings  while  1  was  at  tlie 
westward  ;  but  rather  in  favor  than  otherwise. 

I  sent  I'arish  immediately  to  Philadelphia  with  despatches,  after  my 
return,  including  the  whole  of  our  proceedings  while  at  Huflalo  Creek, 
and  Pres(iue  Isle,  &.C.;  and  from  every  information  by  my  son  I  am  in 
hopes  and  believe  the  dispositions  of  tiie  President  and  of  General 
Knox  are  sucii  as  will  render  satisfaction  to  the  Six  Nations. 

It  is  a  fact  that  the  President  was  not  concerned  in  the  business  of 
ordering  this  party  to  Presque  Isle,  but  .so  far  from  it,  (tliat  after 
the  Governor  of  I'ennsylvania  had  ordered  the  party  to  march  to 
Presquo  Isle,)  for  fear  of  ill  coiiso(iuence.s  the  President  sent  them 
counter  orders  to  sto|)  and  remain  at  Le  Bueuf.  Matters  appear  more 
favorable  with  regard  to  war  between  (Jreat  Britain  and  America. 
They  have  ceased  in  some  measure  to  take  our  vessels  in  the  West 


472 


APPENDIX. 


WrVl 


Indies,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  present  negotiation  with  Mr.  Jay, 
will  be  the  means  of  settling  the  difficulties  subsisting  between  both 
parties. 

As  soon  as  Parish  returna  I  shall  communicate  the  answer, — as 
soon  as  possible.  Yours,  &c., 

ISRAEL  CHAPIN. 


ii*-||i 


m::^\ 


[C] 
THE  CANANDAIGUA  TREATY. 


'■\ 


■A        I 


m 


COLONEL  PICKERING  TO  CAPTAIN  BRANT. 

Canandaigua,  November  20th,  1794. 

Sir  :  When  I  wrote  you  on  the  17th,  I  had  not  time  to  express  any 
opinion  relative  to  the  Mohawk  nation,  as  implicated  in  the  present 
treaty.  As  one  of  the  Six  Nations,  I  did  not  think  it  proper  to  name 
it  as  not  included  in  the  treaty  ;  nor  to  omit  it  by  enumerating  the  other 
five.  For  general  concerns,  I  consider  the  whole  six  as  forming  one 
confederate  nation. 

The  great  object  of  this  treaty  (like  almost  all  other  Indian  treaties) 
was  to  "-eniove  complaints  respecting  lands.  The  particular  tract  in 
questi(  i  I  supposed  especially  concerned  the  Senecas  ;  but  it  was 
natural  that  an  object  so  important  to  one,  should  interest  the  whole. 
By  the  terms  of  the  present  treaty,  the  complaints  which  were  the 
immediate  occasion  of  it  have  been  removed ;  and,  as  I  observed  in 
my  former  letter,  all  appeared  to  be  satisfied ;  and  many  individual 
chiefs,  in  strong  terms,  expressed  their  satisfaction.  So,  I  trust,  no 
heart  burnings  for  past  transactions  will  be  felt,  nor  reproaches  used, 
in  future. 

It  is  the  nature  of  the  present  settlement  which  has  led  me  to  con- 
template the  case  of  the  Mohawk  nation. 

"  This  settlement,"  said  one  of  the  chiefs  to  me,  "  appears  like  a 
great  light  to  us."  And  to  me  it  seems  like  a  new  era.  With  nmch 
pleasure,  therefore,  I  should  see  presented  to  tliat  nation,  a  token  for 
participating  in  the  general  satisfaction  wliich  this  treaty  has  produced. 
The  goods  in  my  power  to  dispose  of  have  been  distributed ;  and  to 
convey  a  share  of  them  to  your  people  would  have  been  impractica- 
ble ;  and  therefore  I  abandoned  the  idea  of  it ;  but  if  it  should  not 
meet  your  approbation,  I  persuade  myself  that  an  equivalent  in  money 
would  cheerfully  be  presented.  On  tiiis  subject  I  shall  be  happy  to  see 
your  mind  expressed  in  a  letter  to  General  Chapin,  (whom  I  have  con- 
sulted on  this  occasion,)  or  to  me.  In  tlie  meantime  a  copy  of  this 
letter  will  be  given  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  for  the  President's  infor- 
mation. 

The  Onondagas  and  Cayugas,  residing  at  Grand  River,  who  were 
not  present  to  receive  a  part  of  the  g(  ids  given  at  this  treaty,  may 
doubtless  be  also  comprehended  in  j  'iviuing  a  gratuity  on  the  present 
general  settlement  with  the  Six  N.  ons.  Before  1  closed  my  letter 
of  the  7th,  1  intended  to  give  you  a  sketc  h  of  the  terms  of  the  treaty ; 
but  V.  throng  being  about  me,  and  your  n  'lew  waiting,  it  was  omitted. 
By  former  treaties  the  Six  Nations  relinquiSi  "d  all  their  lands  west  of 


.it: 


m 


n  with  Mr.  Jay, 
y  between  both 

le  answer, — as 

.  CHAPIN. 


RANT. 

r20th,  1794. 
to  e.xpress  any 
in  the  present 
jroper  to  name 
•ating  the  other 
IS  forming  one 

ndian  treaties) 
ticuiar  tract  in 
is  ;  but  it  was 
E!st  the  whole, 
hich  were  the 
;  I  observed  in 
lany  individual 
So,  I  trust,  no 
roaches  used, 

ed  me  to  con- 

ppears  like  a 
With  much 
a  toi\en  for 
has  produced, 
juted ;  and  to 
mpractica- 
it  should  not 
lent  in  money 
liiippy  to  see 
m  I  liave  con- 
copy  of  this 
ident's  infor- 

er,  who  were 
treaty,  may 
n  the  present 
sed  my  letter 

f  the  treaty ; 

was  omitted. 

ands  west  of 


I 


APPENDIX. 


473 


a  line  running  due  south  from  the  mouth  of  Buffalo  Creek.  Now  I 
have  given  up  the  claim  of  the  United  States  to  a  large  tract  of  land 
lying  between  this  due  south  line  and  the  meridian  wiiich  makes  the 
eastern  boimdary  of  the  triangular  piece  of  land  which  the  United 
States  sold  to  Pennsylvania.  The  tract  now  relinquished  probably 
contains  four  times  as  much  land  as  that  triangle,  and  was  peculiarly 
important  to  th  Seneca  nation,  as  several  hundred  of  thuir  nation 
were  dwelling  on  it. 

I  have  also  relinquished  the  United  States'  claim  to  the  strip  of  land 
four  miles  wide,  including  the  carrying  path  from  Lake  Ontario  to  Lake 
Erie,  along  the  Niagara  strait,  except  that  part  of  it  which,  in  a  treaty 
held  thirty  years  ago  with  Sir  William  .lohnson,  the  Seneca  nation 
ceded  to  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  to  whose  right  therein  1  considered 
the  United  States  as  succeeding.  Or,  as  the  chiefs  expressed  it,  "  that 
piece  became  ours  (the  United  States)  by  the  right  of  war."  Its 
eastern  boundary  is  a  line  from  Johnson's  Landing  to  Stedman's  Creek, 
and  thence  to  Niagara  Straits,  and  the  strait  itself  Vc  ands  it  on  the 
west  and  southwest.  Besides  these  relinquishments,  1  havi  stipulated 
a  perpetual  annuity  of  four  thousand  five  hundred  dollars,  to  be  applied 
to  the  beneiit  of  those  of  the  Six  Nations,  and  their  Indian  friends  and 
associates,  residing  among  and  united  with  them,  who  do  or  shall  reside 
within  the  boundaries  of  the  United  Statas;  for  the  United  States  do 
not  mean  to  intcri'ere,  by  any  permanent  arrangements,  with  itions 
elsewhere  resident.  The  terms  I  have  stipulated,  will,  I  trust,  I  j  ap- 
proved by  the  President  and  Senate,  ai;d  then  the  treaty  will  be  obliga- 
tory on  both  sides. 

I  am.  Sir,  &.C., 
(Signed)  TLMO.  PICKERING. 

P.  S.  My  letter  of  the  7th  was  delivered  to  the  care  of  Henry 
Young  Brant,  who  I  understood  was  your  nephew.  In  that  I  enclosed 
a  copy  of  my  speech  relative  to  the  appearance  of  a  British  agent  at 
a  council  fire  kindled  by  the  United  Stales. 

Capt.  .)os.  13 KANT. 

CAPTAIN  BRANT  TO  COLONEL  PICKERING. 

Niagara,  '.iOth  December,  1791. 

Sir  :  Your  letters  of  the  17tiiand  2()tir  November,  '94,  from  Kanan- 
daigua,  I  have  now  before  nic,  and  1  have  to  say,  that  at  ail  our  meet- 
mgs  durinii'  llio  whole  of  last  summer,  our  thoughts  were  solely  bent  on 
tixiiig  a  biHiiulary  line  between  the  confederate  Indians  and  the  United 
States,  so  as  that  })eace  might  bo  established  on  a  solid  basis,  for  which 
reason  we  pointcil  out  the  line  we  did,  veil  knowing  the  justness  of  it, 
and  that  it  would  bo  ratihod  by  the  \vbol>  Indian  confederacy. 

As  an  individual  1  nmch  regret  to  find  that  the  boimdary  so  pointed 
out  has  now  boon  abandoned,  the  e.-,ablishment  of  wliich,  I  am  well 
convinced,  would  iiave  been  the  means  of  bringing  about  a  lasting  aiiJ 
permanent  peace.  This  object,  so  earnestly  to  be  desired,  has  ever 
made  me  exert  every  nerve,  wishiilr^'''or  nothing  more  than  mutual  jus- 
tice. This  line,  you  will  recolkn'M'-was  offered  to  Governor  St.  Clair 
at  Muskingniii,  and  notwithstaii''ing  the  two  successful  campaigns  of 
tbc  I  ndian",  alter  this  I  still  a-fl'-cl'edto  the  same,  and  still  do.  'Phis,  I 
hope,  will  satisfy  you  that  i^)*  wish  ever  was  for  peace.    The  offer  was 

60 


''  1 


I ; 


474 


ArPENDIX. 


it;  ■■;  '\\: 


rejected  by  Mr.  St.  Clair,  and  what  the  consequences  have  been  you 
well  know.  I  .should  be  sorry  if  your  endeavors  would  be  crownel 
with  no  better  success,  as  your  exertions  I  hope  are  not  influenced  by 
similar  motives  with  his.  You  must  also  recollect  that  I  difiered  even 
with  my  Iriends  respecting  this  boundary,  and  to  the  last  two  messages 
youthen  received,  my  name  was  to  neither  of  them,  because  1  thought 
them  too  uiirea.soiiablo.  This  made  me  take  more  _)ains  and  trouble  to 
bring  the  Indians  and  you  to  an  understanding,  than  I  was  under  any 
obligations  to  do,  otherwise  than  humanity  dictated  to  me,  having 
nothing  but  our  mutual  interests  in  view,  and  as  to  politics  1  study  them 
not.  Aly  princij)le  is  founded  on  justice,  and  justice  is  all  I  wish  for, 
and  never  shall  I  exert  myself  in  behalf  of  any  nation  or  nations,  let 
their  oi)inii)n  of  me  be  what  it  will,  unless  I  plaiidy  see  they  are  just 
and  sincere  in  their  pursuits,  doing  what  in  every  respect  to  justice 
may  belong.  When  1  perceive  such  are  the  sentiments  of  a  people, 
no  endeavors  shall  be  wanting  on  my  part  to  bring  neighbors  to  a  good 
understanding. 

I  nmst  again  repeat  that  I  am  extremely  sorry  this  boundary,  so 
long  since  pointed  out,  should  have  been  abandoned, — it  being  an  ob- 
ject of  such  magnitude,  and  which  much  depends  on  the  whole  Indian 
confederacy  being  interested.  I  should  therefore  have  sujjposed  it 
would  have  been  more  for  nmtual  interests  and  would  have  had  a  bet- 
ter effect,  to  liave  dealt  n])on  a  larger  scale  than  within  the  small 
comjiass  of  the  Five  Nations,  the  meeting  being  intended  solely  to 
talk  over  the  business  of  the  boundary,  and  then  to  have  acquainted 
the  whole  conlederacy  with  what  had  passed,  so  that  something  final 
could  have  been  determined  on,  as  all  that  part  of  the  country  is  a 
connnon  to  the  whole  of  us. 

You  say  on  your  part  every  thing  has  been  openly  and  fairly  ex- 
plained, and  that  you  shall  be  disappointed  if  the  chiefs  do  not  acknow- 
ledge your  candor.  I  can,  for  my  own  part,  form  no  opinion,  whether 
it  is  so  or  not,  being  perfectly  ignorant  of  what  has  passed,  but  ever 
look  upon  it  that  business  fairly  transacted  should  be  adhered  to  as 
sacred. 

And  that  you  are  still  ready  to  make  peace  with  the  western  na- 
tions,— this  has  made  me  say  nmch  about  the  boundary  line,  in  order 
that  peace  and  friendship  might  be  established  between  you.  This 
obliges  me  to  say  they  ought  to  have  been  included  in  this  treaty,  and 
to  have  been  consulted  with,  as  well  as  those  who  were  there,  they 
being  etpially  interested  witli  the  Six  Nations  in  this  line.  As  to  the 
British,  they  are  an  hidepeiidenl  nation,  as  well  as  the  United  States 
and  the  Indian  nations,  and  of  course  they  act  for  themsehex,  as  well  as 
other  white  nations  do. 

My  mentioning  in  my  letter  to  you,  that  I  was  sorry  Mr.  Johnson 
was  looked  upon  as  a  s])y,  was  because  I  knew  the  Five  Nations  so 
often  erred  in  their  transactions  with  the  white  people, — it  being  my- 
self in  person,  from  the  wish  of  the  Indians,  that  reciuested  Mr.  John- 
son should  go  to  the  treaty  ; — in  consequence  of  which  request  he  was 
permitted.  I  was  well  aware  at  the  same  time  of  the  reception  he 
would  meet  with,  as  we  are  an  independent  people.  I  ever  thought 
our  councils  should  be  private  ;  but  must  at  the  same  time  say,  we 
have  an  undoubted  right  to  admit  at  our  councils  whom  we  please. 


APPENDIX. 


475 


ive  been  you 
1  be  crownel 
inHueiiced  by 
differed  even 
two  messages 
luse  1  tliouifht 
and  trouble  to 
as  under  any 
a  iiie,  having 
3 1  study  them 
all  I  wish  for, 
or  nations,  let 
I  they  are  just 
ect  to  justice 
i  of  a  people, 
)ors  to  a  good 

boundary,  so 
,  being  an  ob- 

whole  Indian 
e  supposed  it 
ive  had  a  bet- 
thin  the  small 
iided  solely  to 
ve  ac(iuainted 
nncthiiig  final 
3  country  is  a 

and  fairly  ex- 
D  not  acknow- 
inion,  whether 
■sed,  but  ever 
adhered  to  as 

western  na- 

linc,  in  order 

you.     This 

is  treaty,  and 

•e  there,  they 

lie.     As  to  the 

Jnited  States 

t'.v,  as  well  as 

Mr.  Johnson 
e  Nations  so 
it  being  niy- 

ted  Mr.  .lohn- 
(^uest  he  was 
reception  he 
ever  thought 
time  say,  we 

)ni  we  please. 


Of  course  the  United  States  have  it  optional  whether  they  will  treat 
or  not  with  any  nation  or  nations,  where  foreign  agents  are  present. 

You  soein  to  think,  in  your  letter  of  the  2(»th,  riiiit  Iho  Senecas  are 
the  nation  most  concerned  in  the  tracts  in  (piestioii,  agroeai)Io  to  the 
lines  you  point  out.  At  the  different  treaties  held  since  the  year  '83, 
I  allow,  the  Senecas  from  their  ])roceedings  .'cemed  to  be  tiie  only  na- 
tion concerned  in  that  country,  althougji  the  whole  Five  Nations  have 
an  equal  right  one  with  tlie  other,  the  country  having  been  nhtained  by 
their  joint  exertions  in  war  with  a  powerful  nation,  formerly  living 
southward  of  Butl'alo  Creek,  called  Eries,  and  another  nation  then  liv- 
ing at  Tioga  Point,  so  that  by  our  successes  all  tlio  coiiiitrv  hctween 
that  and  the  Mississippi,  became  the  joint  property  of  the"  Five  Na- 
tions,— all  other  nations  now  inhabiting  this  great  tract  of  country 
were  allowed  to  settle  by  the  Five  Nations. 

This  I  hope  will  convince  you  that  the  Mohawks  have  an  ef[ual 
claim,  and  right  to  receive  in  proportion,  with  the  others  of  the  Five 
Nations.  But  as  1  am  ignorant  of  the  transaction, — knowing  notliino- 
of  wliat  has  passed,  and  what  was  the  result  of  tiie  treaty, — musf, 
therefore,  defer  saying  any  thing  farther  on  the  subject  until  1  know 
the  i)articulars,  which  I  hope  will  be  ere  long.  As  to  the  others  of 
the  Five  Nations  ""esiding  on  the  (Jrand  River,  they  must  answer  for 
themselves.  I  am  not  so  particular  in  that  as  I  might  be,  seeing  no 
great  necessity  for  it, — as  I  hope  to  see  General  C'hapin  ere  long. 

In  reading  the  speech  you  have  sent  me,  1  perceive  that  you  say 
we  reijuested  you  might  be  sent  to  kindle  the  council  tire,  &c.  This 
I  knew  to  be  a  mistake.  In  our  speech  to  General  Cliapin.  we  wished 
the  President  of  the  United  States  to  send  a  commissioner  to  our  fire- 
place at  Buffalo  Creek,  (y(jur  name  being  mentioned,)  not  that  you  was 
to  come  and  kindle  a  council  fire  elsewhere — and  that  y(ni  requested 
our  assistance  to  bring  about  a  peace,  &c.  Vou  did,  and  every  thing 
has  been  done  by  us  faithfully  and  sincerely,  by  pointing  out  the  medi- 
cine that  would  accomplish  it,  your  relin([uishing  part  of  jour  claims 
in  the  Indian  country. 

Vou  also  say  that  I  told  General  Cliapin  at  Winny's  that  it  was 
the  British  j)revented  the  treaty  taking  place.  I  said  so  then,  and  still 
do.  What  enabled  me  to  say  so,  was  the  gentleman  belonging  to  the 
Indian  department  in  that  (juarter,  interfering  in  the  business.  Had 
the  line,  as  pointed  out  by  us  been  acce|)ted  of  by  the  United  States, 
their  interference  could  not  have  prevented  peace  tiicn  taking  place, 
as  the  tive  nations  had  pledged  themselves  to  see  it  ratified. 

As  to  the  business  of  the  white  nations,  I  perceive  it  at  present  to  be 
a  lottery — which  will  be  uppermost  cannot  be  known  until  drawn — 
the  most  powerful  no  doubt  will  succeed;  but  let  who  will  be  suc- 
cessful, our  situation  is  the  same,  as  we  still  have  whites  to  deal  with 
whose  aims  are  generally  similar. 

You  mention  the  pet)j)le  of  France  took  the  Indian  method,  all  their 
warriors  turning  out.  The  Indian  warriors  are  always  ready  to  turn 
out  in  defence  of  their  just  rights, — but  Indian  warriors  would  not  be 
ready  to  butcher  in  an  inhuman,  shocking  manner,  their  king,  queen, 
nobles  and  others.  This  is  acting  worse  than  what  is  called  savage. 
The  Indians  are  not  entirely  destitute  of  humanity — but  from  every 
appearance  it  has  fled  from  France.  1  must  therefore  say  the  French 
have  not  acted  as  Indians  do. 


I 

is 


1. 1 


^m^ 


llllijil 


■  ;     ■.! 


^k;.< 


!|'S    1 


;1 ' ' 

?^»   .'I  I 
"    Jl, 


476 


APPENDIX. 


You  likewise  mention  that  yon  told  the  deputies  from  the  westward 
wlio  met  you  at  this  place,  thatthoujrh  you  were  williiifr  to  run  a  new 
line,  yet  it  was  impossible  to  make  the  Ohio  the  boundary.  This,  I 
believe  is  a  mistake,  as  the  word  Ohio  was  novor  mentioned  at  that 
time. 

You  may  now  perceive  that  I  do  not  swerve  from  any  expressions  I 
have  made  use  of.  1  know  the  necessity  for  beiufr  ciindid,  especially 
at  this  critical  juncture,  and  still  earnestly  hopn  that  \)oace  may  be 
estabjisjied  witiiout  further  bloodshed,  and  that  Iriondship  may  reign 
between  tjiejieople  of  the  United  States  and  the  Indian  nali(jns.  This, 
be  assured,  is  the  sincere  wish  of.  Sir, 

^'our  most  obedient  humble  servant, 

Timothy  Pickering,  Estj.  JOS.  BRANT. 


[D.] 


CAPTAIN  BRANT  TO  CAPTAIN  CIIAPIN. 

"  Niagara,  21st  of  May,  1803. 
"  Dkar  Sir,— 

"  Your  friendly  letter  by  Aaron,  I  have  the  felicity  of  acknow- 
ledfjinir,  and  ought  to  have  answered  it  long  ere  this.  Jhit  I  trust 
you'll  excuse  me  for  this  neglect, — particularly  so,  when  1  a^^sure  you 
of  my  high  esteem  for  you.  I  trust  you'll  continue  your  friendly  cor- 
respondence, as  the  love  I  bear  you  is  sincere,  and  as  tliore  was  a  de- 
gree of  confidence  and  friendship  that  subsisted  between  your  worthy 
and  much  to  be  lamented  father  and  myself.  This  I  look  nj)on,  (ex- 
clusive of  our  personal  friendship  and  acquaintance,)  to  be  a  suthcient 
reason  for  continuing  our  nuitual  friendship  toward  each  other.  Be 
assured  nothing  on  my  part  shall  he  wanting  to  keep  this  flame  of 
friendship  alive. 

"  I  certainly  regretted  to  hear  of  your  removal  from  office,  but  trust 
it  will  not  be  long  before  you  again  till  it, — an  office  in  which  you 
have  certainly  done  credit  to  yourself,  aiul  justice  to  those  Indians 
over  whom  you  presided.  To  you  did  they  look  u])  as  their  friend 
and  patron.  Your  removal  is  one  of  the  natural  changes  incidental 
to  republican  governments.  When  a  person  is  elevated  to  a  high 
office,  it  is  expected  from  him,  and  it  is  but  natural  to  su]>pose  that  he 
will  provide  for  his  friends,  at  the  expense  of  others, — perhaps  more 
honorable  than  the  favorite  to  be  provided  for.  I  am  lia])))y  that  you 
bear  your  dismissal  with  manly,  virtuous,  and  patrioUc  fortitude. 
This  surely  must  redound  to  your  honor,  and  raise  you  even  in  the 
estimation  of  the  jjorson  who  dismissed  you. 

"  1  hope  before  long  to  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  personally, 
and  condoling  with  you  for  your  loss,  if  you  look  u]ion  it  as  such.  In 
all  revolutions,  some  changes  for  political  reasons  will  take  place,— 
perhaps  through  whim,  caprice,  or  prejudice. 

"I  will  thank  you  to  pay  attention  to  your  friend  Oghgwage-Joseph, 
who  is  the  beai'er  of  this,  and  am,  dear  sir, 

"  Your  friend  and  well-wisher, 

"JOSEPH  BRANT." 
"  Captain  Israel  Chapin." 


ArrENDix. 


477 


ho  westward 
to  run  a  new 
iry.  This,  I 
loned  at  tliat 

pxprossions  I 
liil,  especially 
pace  may  be 
lij)  may  reign 
lalions.  This, 


BRANT. 


'TN. 

May,  1803. 

y  of  acknow- 
,  But  I  trust 
1  T  a.^sure  you 
r  I'riendly  cor- 
ere  was  a  de- 
1  your  ^\•orthy 
(ik  ujjon,  (ex- 
be  a  sufficient 
|h  other.  Be 
this  flame  of 

ice,  but  trust 
which  you 
liose  Indiana 

their  friend 
incidental 

d  to  a  high 

poso  that  he 
lerhaps  more 

)])y  that  you 
lie    fortitude. 

even  in  the 

u  personally, 
as  such.  In 
ake  place, — 

vagc- Joseph, 

her, 
BRANT." 


[E.] 
GENERAT,  PORTER  TO  THE  AUTHOR. 

Niagara  Falls,  Oct.  t-T),  1^40. 
Dear  Sir: — I  have  received  your  favor  of  the  9th  ultimo,  en- 
closing a  number  of  the  manuscript  sheets  of  your  iiiteiuh'd  biogra- 
phy of  Red-Jacket,  containing  a  notice  of  thi;  repulse  of  a  detachment 
of  British  troo))s  uniirr  tiie  command  of  Colonel  Bisliop,  at  Black 
Rock,  in  July,  1813, — Iji  ws  the  tirsi  dccasion  on  whicii  our  Indians 
were  engaged  in  battle  a.--  auxiliaries  of  the  Americans;  and  embra- 
cing also  an  account  of  the  niar^h  and  operations  of  the  American 
army  under  General  Brown,  from  the  time  of  their  entering  Ciinada, 
on  the  3d  of  July,  1814,  until  shortly  after  the  battle  of  Chippewa, 
when  the  Indians  took  leave  of  us  for  their  respective  homos  ;  and 
asking  for  such  additions,  corrections  and  remarks  as  the  suljjoct  may 
BUggest. 

VVhile  I  will  cheerfully  comply  with  your  request  as  regards  the  afTair 
at  Black  Rock,  I  will  not  disguise  the  satisfaction  which  the  receipt  of 
your  communication  has  given  me,  in  so  far  as  it  affords  me  an  ojjpor- 
tunity  of  doing  an  act  of  justice,  too  long  withheld  from  the  Indiana 
and  volunteers  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Chippewa ;  by  presenting, 
with  your  permission,  and  in  a  shape  and  coimexion  where  it  will  be 
Bure  to  meet  extensively  the  public  eye,  a  minute  account,  (so  far  at 
least  as  the  Indians  and  volunteers  were  concerned,)  of  the  various 
movements  and  incidents  of  that  day ;  and  thus  rescuing  their  cha- 
racters from  the  charge  of  cowardice,  preferred  against  them  for  their 
conduct  on  that  occasion. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  we  have  no  fair,  intelligent  and  connected 
history  of  the  interesting  campaign  of  1814,  on  the  Niagara  frontier, 
prepared  by  some  one  whose  knowledge  of  the  views  and  plans  of 
those  who  conducted  it,  as  well  as  of  its  incidents,  gives  him  a  right 
to  be  heard.  But  of  those  best  qualified  to  perform  the  task,  many 
have  doubtless  been  deterred  by  considerations  of  delicacy  in  the  nar- 
ration of  events  in  which  they  had  a  deep  personal  interest  or  agency  ; 
and  thus  involving  the  necessity  either  of  becoming  their  own  ])ane- 
gyrists,  or  of  suppressing  important  facts, — the  preservation  of  which 
is  due  to  the  integrity  and  truth  of  history. 

Many,  if  not  most  of  these,  have  already  left  the  stage  of  life,  and 
the  only  hope  of  preserving  the  recollection  of  many  interesting 
events  of  that  period,  rests  upon  the  occasional  and  voluntary  contri- 
butions of  those  who  remain.  I  observe,  with  nmch  satisfaction,  that 
our  friend,  Major  Douglass,  has  been  employed  in  delivering,  in  your 
city,  a  course  of  lectures  on  the  subject  of  the  "Niagara  Campaign."  He 
was,  if  1  mistake  not,  personally  engaged  in  several  of  the  principal 
battles  of  that  year  ;  and,  although  then  young,  and  fresh  from  West 
Point,  he  was  an  intelligent  and  active  officer,  and  will  doubtless  gra- 
tify the  public  expectations  with  many  interesting  reminiscences. 

Will  it,  then,  my  dear  sir,  be  presuming  too  nmch  to  offer  for  your 
acceptance  the  accompanying  narrative  of  the  operations  of  the  army 
during  the  few  days  to  which  it  extends,  and  embracing  the  battle  of 
Chippewa,  as  a  substitute  for  the  sheets  you  sent  me  !  In  exchange 
for  the  loss  of  style  and  spirit  in  its  composition,  I  can  only  promise  a 
more  minute  detail,  and  probably  somewhat  greater  accuracy  in  the  re- 


47S 


APPENDIX. 


li     '   • 


lation  of  facts.  If  the  story  should  appear  to  he  a  lonj;  one,  I  hope 
that  this  defect  will  not  be  ascribed  wholly  to  the  proverbial  garrulity 
of  ati  old  soldier,  but  to  the  impossibility  of  doiui,'  justice  to  the  several 
parties  eugafjod  in  that  severe  coiillict,  without  a  full  kiiowledfje  of  its 
complicated  incidents.  The  whole  history  of  this  hattle,  as  it  lias  ap- 
peared in  most  of  our  publications  on  the  subject,  may  be  compre- 
hended in  two  simple  propositions  : — the  one,  that  our  volunteers  and 
Indians,  when  met  and  attacked  on  that  day,  by  the  roffular  colunms 
of  the  JJritish  army,  retreated  and  were  pui-^ued  with  jrroat  precipita- 
tion. The  other,  that  these  same  British  columns  wore,  immediately 
thereafter,  mot  and  beaten  by  our  reijular  troops,  and  oblified  in  their 
turn,  to  retreat  with  ecjual  precipitation. 

Now,  both  these  propositions  are  literally  ti-'c :  hut  whether  the 
inferences  that  have  been  drawn  from  them  are  just.  can  only  be  de- 
cided by  reference  to  the  whole  operations  of  the  day,  and  these  it  has 
been  my  ])urposc  to  detail.  I  have  however  introduced  some  circum- 
stances that  were  not  strictly  necessary  to  an  exposition  of  the  merits 
of  the  battle,  merely  because  I  thought  they  would  be  interesting  to 
readers  of  the  present  day. 

1  remain,  dear  Sir,  very  truly  and  respectfuUv,  yours, 

William  L.  Stone,  Escj.  V.  15.  PORTER. 


THE  INDIAN  TREATIES. 

The  following  are  the  leading  provisions  of  these  treaties  as  agreed 
upon  in  council  on  the  Indian  reservation,  January,  IHIN.  We  pre- 
sume they  have  been  ratified  essentially  astlioy  were  originally  made. 
The  government  gives  the  New- York  Indians  1,'^'J  1,(1(10  i'.c res  of  land, 
west  of  Missouri,  being  Mx!0  acres  for  each  person,  to  he  held  in  fee 
simple  by  patent  Irom  tlie  President,  which  is  never  to  be  included  in 
any  state.  The  Indians  are  to  have  tlio  riglit  of  holding  in  scnoralty, 
u.uicr  such  regulations  as  thoy  may  ])rescrilie.  and  are  to  enjoy  their 
own  form  of  government,  subject  only  to  the  laws  ol  Congress. — 'I'hey 
are  to  be  secured  in  their  new  possessions,  and  if  aggressions  are 
committed  iii)on  them,  and  redresscaiinot  be  obtained  of  the  aggressor, 
then  the  goveriimeut  is  to  make  gooil  the  loss.  It  is  to  remove  them 
and  subsist  them  for  one  year.  It  is  also  to  erect  for  them  council- 
houses,  churches,  school-houses,  a  saw  and  grist-mill,  gunsmiths'  and 
blacksinilhs'  shops  ;  find  coal,  iron  and  steel ;  and  pay  teachers,  mil- 
lers, blacksmiths  and  a  gunsmith  for  ten  years,  and  as  much  longer  as 
the  President  may  deem  proper. 

Fifty  thousand  dollars  are  set  apart  to  be  iinfsted  to  siip|)ort  a  high 
Bchool,  or  college,  the  teachers  ot  which  are  to  he  Indians,  il  those  of 
suitable  (|ualilications  can  be  loiind.  Twenty  thousand  dollars  are  set 
apart  to  make  erect  ions  and  enclosures  for  poor  people,  alter  their  arrival 
west. 

Ten  thousand  dollars  a  year,  for  (he  years,  are  to  be  ])aid  them  in 
domestic  aniinii|>,  larimng  utensils,  spinning  wheels  and  looms,  and  to 
eupport  persons  to  teach  them  the  use  of  the  same. 

It  is  tartlier  provided,  that  thos*!  who  wish  to  remove  in  their  own 
conveyances,  can  do  so,  and  be  paid  what  il  costs  the  govcrumunt  to 


APPENDIX. 


479 


one,  I  hope 
i)ial  garrulity 
f)  the  several 
\v  ledge  of  its 
as  it  him  ap- 
r  be  coiiipre- 
luiiteors  and 
liar  coJuinns 
■at  precipita- 
inniiediately 
iged  in  their 

whether  the 
1  only  be  de- 
l  tjiese  it  has 
luie  c'ircum- 
)i  tlie  merits 
iterestiug  to 

'ORTER. 


cs  as  agreed 

.     We  pre- 

iiuilly  made. 

LTos  ot  land, 

jield  in  tee 

ini'hided  in 

n  severalty, 

(•iijoy  their 

•ss.— They 

\<sii)ns  are 

aggressor, 

llliiV(:  tluMU 

III     CDlllU'ii- 

iiiitlis'  and 

hers,  iiiil- 

ii  longer  as 

iport  a  high 
1 1  those  of 
liirs  are  set 
heir  arrival 

them  in 
lus,  and  to 

tiioir  own 
iniiuuat  to 


remove  others,  and  a  physician  is  to  accompany  each  party  of  emi- 
grants, if  tiioy  desire  it. 

The  only  cession  of  land  to  the  government,  is  of  the  Green  Bay 
tract,  from  which  is  ex|)ected  a  reservation  now  occupied  by  the  Onei- 
das.  Those  wiio  do  not  remove  to  tiie  new  country  in  live  years,  or 
such  time  astlio  President  may  appoint,  forfeit  their  riglit  totjie country 
Bet  apart  fortiiem.  The  Henecas, Cayugas, Tuscaroras,  and  the  Onon- 
dagas,  residing  on  tlie  Seneca  reservations,  agree  to  remove  in  five 
years,  and  a  ))(irtion  of  the  Oneidas  are  to  do  so,  as  soon  as  the  Gover- 
nor of  New-N'ork  will  purchase  their  lands. 

Several  sums  of  money  are  to  he  ])aid  to  several  nations  and  indi- 
viduals, to  remunerate  them  for  losses  and  services,  which  it  is  snpjinsod 
the  United  States  ought  to  pay.  There  are  also  several  sc])arate 
provisions  for  each  tribe,  and  distinct  branches  of  a  tribe. 

A  separate  treaty  was  also  made  in  January,  IH.'W,  with  the  Senecas 
and  Tuscaroras,  for  the  jjurchase  of  their  lands,  (except  oiu^  reserva- 
tion coiivpyi  (1  by  the  latter  t(j  the  United  States  in  trust,)  by  the  repre- 
sentativos  ot'  the  state  of  iMassachusetts  with  the  assent  of  a  superin- 
tendent fmnitliat  slate.  'J'ho  consideration  money  for  the  sai(M)f  tiie 
Seneca  reserxation  is  to  be  paid  to  tho  United  States,  and  be  held  in 
trust  for  the  nation.  One  hundred  thousand  dollars  of  which  is  to  be 
invested  for  the  use  of  the  nation  ;  and  the  balance  (.iJilO'JiIMM))  is  to 
be  distributetl  among  the  owners  of  the  inij)rovemenls  on  the  reser- 
vation. 

T!ie  govermiKMit  agrees  to  have  one  of  its  agents  reside  anion"'  the 
Indians  at  thoir  new  homes,  and  to  pay  them  their  annuities  there. 

These  are  the  leading  provisions. 

By  this  treaty  the  Tuscaroras  cede  to  the  Ogden  Company,  who 
have  purchaseil  tiie  jire-emptive  right,  1!)'J()  acres;  to  the  I'nited 
States  about  .")()()0  acr(?s,  ot  which  the  Indians  owned  the  fco,  and 
which  is  to  lie  sold  by  the  L'nited  States,  and  the  nett  |)rocee(ls  jiaid  to 
the  Indians. 

The  Senecas  cede  to  the  pre-emptive  owners  about  ]ir),(HH)  acres, 
all  lying  in  the  western  part  of  this  state, — upwards  of  r)(),(K)()  of 
which  is  the  reservation  near  tiiis  city. 

'J'he  other  reservations  are,  one  at  Tonnawanda,  one  at  Cattaraugus, 
and  "lie  at  .Mlegbany. 

The  tract  wIik  li  i he  Indians  obtain,  lies  directly  west  of,  and  ad- 
joining the  Stato  ol  Missouri,  being  ViT  miles  wide  and  about  KKideep. 
it  is  watered  by  the  little  Osage,  .Marmatoii,  iN'eosho,  and  branches 
of  the  two  Verdigris  and  Turkey-loot  rivers. — These  are  all  (.ear 
rapid  streams,  abounding  in  tish.  'I'he  country  is  healthy  and  fertile, 
with  sulVicient  timber  along  the  borders  of  the  raers  for  all  practical 
uses.  Besides  tins,  on  the  tract  are  tound  coal,  tine  stone  (luarries, 
and,  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  salt  in  abundance. 

Such  was  an  outline  of  the  treaty  as  at  first  concluded  in  1«M8. 
While  under  discussion  in  the  Senate  of  the  United  Stales,  il  \,a8 
amended  as  lollows  : — Thes|ieciali»rovisionsforllie  erection  ot  houses, 
churches,  mills,  shops,  i)rovi(ling  various  utensils,  coal,  iron,  steel,  &c. 
&c.,  it  was  thought  might  open  the  door  to  fraud  and  s|)(<culatioii.  and 
in  lieu  thereol,  alter  a  cirelul  estimate  of  the  fair  jirobable  cosi  of  all 
these  things,  the  Senate  struck  them  all  out,  and  inserted  instead  the 
Bpecitic sum  of  $ll)(l,U((0,  which  is  to  be  expended  under  the  direction 


480 


APPENDIX. 


lis;.? 


4  JT  i  ■ 


1 1 


i-( 


111!       1  ! 


of  a  superintendent  in  providing  every  thing  promised  by  the  treaty, 
which  it  was  believed  would  cover  the  whole  expense. 

[The  following  article,  copifd  from  the  New- York  Journal  of  Com- 
merce of  December  iiO,  1840,  affords  a  history  of  the  negotiations 
with  the  Senecas  which  resulted  in  the  treaty-so-called,  that  has  been 
concluded.  The  article  is  a  review  of  two  important  publications, 
which  the  nefarious  transactions  here  unveiled,  have  called  forth.] 

Report  on  the  memorials  of  the  Seneca  Indians  and  others.  Ac- 
cepted, November  21,  1840,  in  the  Council  of  Massachusetts.  Bos- 
ton :  Dutton  &.  Wentworth,  State  printers,  1840.  pp.28. 

The  Case  of  the  Seneca  Indians  in  the  State  of  New-York,  illus- 
trated by  facts.  Printed  for  the  information  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
by  direction  of  the  Joint  Committee  on  Indian  AfTairs,  of  the  Four 
Yearly  Meetings  of  Friends,  of  Genesee,  New- York,  Philadelphia, 
and  Baltimore.  Philadelphia:  Merihew  &  Thompson,  1840.  pp.254. 

To  all  who  can  sympathize  with  the  Indians  in  the  afflictions  which 
are  consuming  them  from  the  face  of  the  earth,  these  are  deeply  in- 
teresting ])ul)iications  ;  and  the  character  of  the  sources  from  which 
they  emanate,  must  command  respectful  attention  to  their  contents. 
Nor  can  the  truth  of  their  statements  be  questioned  ;  for  all  the  im- 

S)ortaiit  facts  arc  sustained  by  authentic  documents,  given  at  full 
ength.  A  brief  abstract  of  their  contents  seems  the  more  desirable, 
as  the  Senecas  aver  that  a  powerful  influence,  exerted  over  the  press 
in  their  vicinity,  has  hitherto  prevented  them  from  laying  the  story 
of  their  wrongs  fully  before  the  public. 

Tlie  ])rpsoiit  nuniher  of  the  Senecas  is  said  to  be  2,449.  They 
claim  four  "Reservations"  in  the  State  of  New-York,  viz  :  the  Tonna- 
wand.i,  l.M.OOO  acres  ;  the  Buffalo,  .'):},(MIO  acres  ;  the  Cattaraugus, 
22,(MI0  ;  and  the  Alleghany,  ;}1,000;  in  all,  about  119,000  acres. 
Much  of  this  land  is  among  the  most  fertile  and  valuable  m  the  state, 
and  the  whole  is  supposed  to  be  worth  at  least  two  millions  of  dollars. 
At  the  close  of  the  war  of  the  revolution,  Massachusetts  claimed  an  in- 
terest in  this  and  other  land  belonging  to  the  Six  Nations.  By  arti- 
cles of  agrpomont,  dated  at  Hartford,  December  16,  1780,  Massachu- 
setts ceded  to  .\ew-Vork  the  sovereignty  and  jurisdiction  over  those 
lands,  and  New-\'ork  ceded  to  Massachusetts,  its  grantees,  their 
heirs  and  .-issigns,  the  right  of  pre-emption  to  the  lands  themselves. 
It  was  "provided,  however,  that  no  purchase  from  the  native  Indians 
by  any  such  grantee  or  grantees  sliould  bo  valid,  unless  the  same 
should  bo  made  in  the  |»resence  of,  and  ajjproved  by,  a  superintendent, 
to  be  ap|)ointed  for  sucli  purjiose  by  the  cumnionwoalthof  Massachu- 
setts, and  having  no  interest  in  such  ])ur(iiaso  ;  and  unless  such  pur- 
chase shall  be  confirmed  by  the  coimiionuealth  of  Massachusetts." 
This  agreement  was  sanctioned  by  Congress  in  1787. 

Ky  an  agreement,  dated  Marcii  12,  1791,  the  commonwealth  con- 
tracted to  sell  Its  pre-ciiiptive  right  to  S;iiiiuel  Ogden,  his  heirs  and 
assigns  ;  and  by  several  transfers,  that  title  has  come  into  the  hands 
of  a  coi]i|)any,  now  known  as  tiie  "Ogden  Land  Company."  Under 
this  title,  several  jturchases  have  been  made  of  the  Indians,  and  con- 
firmed by  the  commonwealth. 
The  C'nitcd  States  had  made  three  treaties  with  tlie  Six  Nations, 


jd  by  the  treaty, 


Journal  of  Com- 
the  negotiations 
id,  that  has  been 
mt  publications, 
;alled  forth.] 
nd  others.  Ac- 
ichusetts.  Bos- 
p.  28. 

^^e\v-York,  illus- 
ciety  of  Friends, 
irs,  of  the  Four 
•k,  Philadelphia, 
a,  1840.  pp.  254. 

ifflictions  which 
•■  are  dee])ly  in- 
rces  from  which 

their  contents. 

for  all  the  ira- 
!,  given  at  full 
more  desirable, 
i  over  the  press 
laying  the  story 

B  2,449.    They 

I'iz :  the  Tonna- 

le  Cattaraugus, 

119,0tM)  acres. 

)le  in  the  state, 

ions  of  dollars. 

lainied  an  in- 

lons.     By  arti- 

8r>,  Massachu- 

ion  over  those 

rantces,  their 

s  thoiiiselves. 

ativc  Indians 

ss  the  same 

|)printondent, 

it  Massacliu- 

Icss  such  pur- 

as.sachusetts." 

inwealth  con- 
his  heirs  and 
nto  the  hands 
my."     Under 
ns,  and  con- 
Six  Nations, 


Al'l'ENDIX. 


481 


previous  to  the  negotiations  which  have  given  occasion  to  these  pub- 
iications.  The  first  was  a  treaty  of  jieace  and  boundaries,  in  1784. 
The  second,  in  1789,  was  little  more  tiiau  a  coutirniation  of  the  first. 
The  third,  which  continued  to  be  tiie  rule  of  intercourse  iictweon  the 
j)arties  tor  more  than  forty  yeart^,  was  made  in  1791.  It  conlainod 
two  important  provisions,  beariiijr  on  the  ([uestidns  uiiicli  have  lately 
arisen.  First,  it  acknowledged  and  guaranteed  the  right  of  each  of 
the  yix  Nations,  tti  its  own  reservations  ;  wo  that  the  Six  Nations 
could  not,  thenceforth,  disiKise  of  any  of  the  land  of  any  one  tribe 
of  the  confederacy  against  its  will.  Secondly,  while  other  Indians 
are  restrained  from  selling  their  land  except  to  the  t'liited  States,  this 
treaty  conferred  on  each  of  the  Six  Nations,  separately,  the  right  to 
sell  any  or  all  of  its  lands  to  citizens  of  the  United  States,  v.heiiover 
and  however  they  might  clioose.  The  Indians  agreed  never  to  set 
up  any  claim  to  any  otiier  land  within  tiie  United  States.  Under 
these  arrangements  with  the  United  Stales  and  Massachusetts,  the 
Indians  fretiuently  sold  land  to  com|)anies  and  individuals,  and  con- 
veyed it,  not  by  treaties,  but  by  ordinary  deeds  of  conv(\vance. 

it  would  seem  that  tiie  United  States  had  now  no  furtlier  connexion 
with  this  l)usiness.  It  was,  however,  for  the  interest  of  the  ( )g(len  j.and 
Company,  that  tlu;  United  Stii'es  government  should  be  involved  in 
some  train  ot  measures  lor  removing  tlio  New-\'ork  Indians.  Fcjr 
this  purpose, — as  it  was  stated  by  Mr.  Sevier,  Chairman  ot  the  Com- 
mittee on  Indian  Affairs,  in  his  speech  in  the  United  Slates  Senate, 
March  17,  lw4(), — the  Company  induced  two  small  bands  to  apply  to 
President  Monroe,  in  L'^Ih,  for  ])ermission  to  purchase,  with  tlieir 
own  means  and  on  their  own  acciuiit,  the  title  of  the  Menomonies,  to 
certain  lands  near  (irrcn  Bay.  Mr.  Sevier  asserts,  tliat  evidence  of 
the  Com|)any's  inlluence  in  tills  movement  is  on  hie  in  ihe  War  De- 
partment. Mr.  Monroe  gave  iiis  assent.  The  agents  of  the  "two 
small  bands,"  as  they  assert,  purchased  the  land  and  paid  '"M'-'.OOO  for 
it,  and  the  bands  began  to  remove.  The  Menomonies  denied  the 
purchase.  A  controversy  arose,  and  the  United  States  (i:)vernmciit 
was  called  upon  to  make  jieiicc.  Tiio  govermnent  made  peace 
in  IKVJ,  by  |)iirclrising  the  land  of  the  AlfMiomoiiies,  paying  hack 
to  the  "two  small  l)aiMls"  tlie  -SI'-MKIO  winch  they  jirolessed  to  have 
paid  for  it,  and  paying  -ijM.l.OOt)  to  the  Oneuias  and  .'i!i."),l)()()  to  the 
St.  Regis  Indians,  as  a  reiniineration  to  them  for  jiurchasing  and 
removing  to  the  (ireen  Hay  lands,  under  Mr.  .Monroe's  permission. 

This  treaty  of  1>M"3  was  made  witii  the  .Menomonies  ;  and  neilher 
the  Senecas,  nor  any  oilier  Indians  residing  in  New-Ndrk,  were  pro- 
sent,  or  had  anv  tliinu'  to  do  in  making  it.  ^'el  by  this  Ireiitv  the 
United  States  purchased,  for  .S'JO,(HKI.  of  tlii'  .Menomonies,  .''HHMMK) 
acres  (>''  land,  as  a  iiouie  for  a.  the  New-Vork  Indians;  and  it  was 
stipulated  that  the  New- York  Indians  should  remove  to  it  within 
lhre(!  years,  or  tlieir  right  to  it  should  be  torteit(?(l,  and  revert  to  the 
United  States.  This,  it  was  hoiied,  would  induce  them  to  sell  their 
reservations  in  Ncw-^'ork  to  lln-  ( )gden  Com|)any  on  easy  terms.  The 
Senecas,  however,  paid  no  attention  to  the  treaty.  They  wcrt;  satis- 
lied  with  Iheirold  homes,  and  cared  nothing  for  the  forleitiire  of  lands 
winch  they  had  not  jiurchased  and  did  not  want,  in  the  hojie  that 
they  might  be  brought  to  change  their  minds,  a  supplementary  artH 

61 


482 


APPENDIX. 


'''■■'ir 


cle  was  procured,  by  which  tlie  time  for  their  removal  was  left  to  the 
discretion  of  the  President. 

Kg  matters  remained  till  1837.  About  this  time,  certain  new  agents 
appeared,  acting  for  the  Land  Company.  It  does  not  appear  from  the 
documents  before  us,  but  has  been  currently  reported  at  and  around 
Buffalo,  and  is  understood  to  be  acknowledged  by  the  gentlemen  them- 
selves, that  five  men  agreed  to  obtain  a  treaty  for  the  removal  of  the 
JSonecas  within  a  specified  time  ;  for  which  some  of  them  were  to  re- 
ceive ,SxJ5,()()()  each,  and  some  of  tliem  $20,000  and  certain  profitable 
agencies.  These  agents  took  hold  of  their  work  in  good  earnest. 
Mr.  Sevier,  in  his  speech  already  quoted,  read  a  contract  between  one 
of  these  agents,  on  behalf  of  the  Ogden  Land  Company,  and  a  Seneca 
chief,  in  which  the  said  chief  agreed  to  "  use  the  best  of  his  exertions 
and  endeavors"  to  procure  such  a  treaty  as  the  Company  desired,  by 
"  the  active  application  of  his  whole  influence  at  councils,  and  in  con- 
fidential interviews,"  and  in  such  otiier  ways  as  he  should  be  advised; 
for  which,  and  for  his  '*  improvements,"  he  was  to  receive  two  thou- 
sand dollars  within  three  mouths  after  the  ratification  of  the  treaty, 
and  a  lease,  at  a  nominal  rent,  during  occupancy,  of  the  farm  on 
which  he  lived.  IJy  the  treaty,  if  made,  he  would  of  course  be  paid 
for  his  "  improvements"  a  second  time.  Mr.  Sevier  read  another 
contract,  by  which  the  same  agent  agreed  to  pay  another  chief,  for 
similar  services,  five  thousand  dollars.  How  many  such  contracts 
were  made,  is  not  known.  Mr.  Sevier  mentioned  six  others.  By 
tiicse  eight,  the  Company  were  bound  to  jjay  )iS'Jl,000  to  eight  chiefs 
for  such  services  as  have  been  described,  besides  leases  for  years,  or 
for  life,  or  grants  in  fee  simple,  of  the  lands  they  then  occupied.  By 
this  arrangement,  he  remarked,  "  the  emigrating  party  were  to  stay 
at  home  upon  thpir  leases,  and  the  non-emigrating  party  were  to  be 
traiis|)orted  beyond  the  Mississippi." 

To  accomplish  the  object,  the  intervention  of  the  United  States  was 
necessary,  and  was  obtained.  A  commissioner  was  appointed,  to  pur- 
chase of  the  Senecas  their  right  in  the  Green  Bay  lands,  which  they 
always  had  retused  to  accept  as  a  gift.  A  council  was  called.  Two 
instruments  were  laid  before  the  council.  One  was  a  treaty,  by  which 
the  United  States  were  to  give  1,H00,0(K)  acres  of  land,  west  of  the 
State  of  Missouri,  and  .'iS400,(M)0  in  cash,  for  the  Green  Bay  lands. 
The  other  was  a  deed,  conveyitig  the  Seneca  reservations  in  New- 
York  t((  the  Ogden  Land  Conii)any,  for  )$'J0"-2,(HKI,  the  receipt  of  which 
was  acknowledged, — though  the  treaty  provides  that  it  "shall  be 
paid"  to  the  United  States,  to  be  used  as  stipulated  for  the  benefit  of 
the  Senecas, — and  though  the  Senecas  have  never  yet  received  any 
part,  either  of  the  princi|)al  or  income.  To  this  treaty  forty-live  sig- 
natures, iuir|)')rting  to  bo  those  of  chiefs  or  head  men,  were  obtained. 
Tile  effect  of  these  bargains  would  be,  that  the  United  States  would 
renio\e  tho  Senecas  at  an  ex|)eiise  of  L'^00,000  acres  of  land,  and 
-SIOO.OOO  in  cash;  and  the  t)g<leii  Land  Company  would  purchase 
$2,000,000  worth  of  land  for  .*i202,000. 

The  i)arty  among  the  Senecas  who  were  opposed  to  emigration, 
asserted  that  tins  treaty  had  been  obtained  by  fraud  and  corruption; 
but  they  ilo  not  seem  to  have  had,  at  tliat  time,  the  means  of  proving 
their  assertion.  The  C(jntracts  referred  to  by  Mr.  Sevier,  had  not 
then  come  to  light.    The  Bale  was  approved  by  tho  govcnunent  of 


APPENDIX. 


483 


as  left  to  the 

n  new  agents 
pear  from  the 
t  and  around 
tlemen  them- 
moval  of  the 
n  were  to  re- 
ain  profitable 
arood  earnest, 
r  between  one 
and  a  Seneca 

his  exertions 
ly  desired,  by 
Is,  and  in  con- 
Id  be  advised ; 
ive  two  thou- 
of  the  treaty, 

the  farm  on 
ourse  be  paid 

read  another 
ther  chief,  for 
;uch  contracts 
K  otliers.  By 
to  eight  chiefs 
s  fur  years,  or 
occupied.    By 

were  to  stay 
rty  were  to  be 

;ed  States  was 
ointed,  to  pur- 
ls, which  they 
called.    Two 
eaty,  by  which 
J,  west  of  the 
en  Bay  lands, 
ions   in  New- 
iceipt  of  which 
it   "shall  be 
the  benefit  of 
received  any 
f(>rty-five  sig- 
were  obtained. 
States  would 
of  land,  and 
ould  purchase 

to  emigration, 
1(1  corruption ; 
uis  of  proving 
3vier,  had  not 
Government  of 


Massachusetts  ;  but  the  United  States  Senate  found  its  provisions  so 
enormously  liberal  that  they  refused  to  ratiiy  it.  'J'iioy  anioiulnd  it, 
so  as  to  make  it  almost  a  new  trciity  ;  ciiiicr  \\Ik)11v'  amniiliiiij-,  or 
commuting  for  others  which  the  Senecas  luiu'lit  think  less  valuable, 
six  important  inducements  to  sell  their  lands  and  remove.  Tliey  sent 
the  amended  treaty  back  to  the  Senocas,  with  a  resoiutioii,  that  it 
"shall  have  no  force  or  effect  whatever,  nor  shall  it  be  understood 
that  the  Senate  have  assented  to  any  of  tiie  <.'oiitracts  ronnrcted  with 
it,"  till  it  should  have  been  explained  by  the  United  States  com- 
missioners in  open  council,  and  received  the  assent  of  a  majority  of 
the  chiefs.  This  provision  was  added,  to  prevent  such  frauds  in  ob- 
taining signatures  as  the  Senecas  had  c()m])lained  of. 

The  Commissioner  returned,  called  a  C(juncil,  explained  the  amended 
treaty,  and  urged  the  Senecas  to  assent  to  it.  Among  other  things, 
he  told  them  that  the  head  of  the  Indian  Bureau  at  Washnigton  thouglit 
the  sale  to  the  Land  Company  valid,  whotimr  the  treaty  was  ratified 
or  not ;  so  that  they  must  assent  to  it,  or  bo  left  wiihoul  a  home.  (ion. 
Dearborn,  who  attended  as  superintendent  on  the  part  <if  Massachu- 
setts, told  them  that  the  Governor  of  Massachusetts  tiiought  other- 
wise,— that  if  the  treaty  was  not  ratified,  tlic  contract  was  void.  The 
Commissioner  called  for  signatures.  One  of  the  chiefs  proposed  that 
those  opposed  to  the  treaty  sliould  sign  a  remonstrance  ;  but  the 
Commissioner  refused  to  authenticate  it.  One  was  drawn  up,  and 
authenticated  by  Gen.  Dearborn.  Tiie  treaty  was  signed  by  Ki  ciiiofs, 
and  the  remonstrance  by  (i'-i.  The  Comnnssioner  tiien  invited  the 
cliiefs  to  sign  the  treaty  singly  and  secretly,  at  his  |)rivate  lodgings, 
in  a  tavern  at  Buffalo.  Runners  were  sent  out,  chiels  wore  brought 
in,  paid  various  sums  of  money  for  their  signatures,  made  drunk  and 
induced  to  sign,  or  their  assent  was  procured  at  their  own  houses. 
In  various  ways,  15  more  signatures  wert;  pnicuriMl.  niakinn-  .'il  in  all. 
The  treaty  was  sent  to  Washington,  and  live  nior,'  signatures  were 
sent  after  it;  but  they  were  rejected  by  the  l)t')»arti]U'nt  of  War. 
The  Connnissioner  continueil  his  labors,  and  obtained  ten  more  sig- 
natures, including  three  who  had  been  made  chiels  illegally,  for  the 
purpose  of  signing  the  treaty,  and  making  U  in  all.  The  whole 
number  of  undisputed  chiefs  is  7.").  Of  tlicse  "JO  ajipcar  to  have 
signed  the  amended  treaty.  The  whole  ninnber  who  are  claiincd  to 
be  chiefs  by  both  parties,  is  1)7,  of  whom  11  appear  as  signns.  Six 
of  those  wIk)sc  names  are  attached  to  it,  solomnly  swear  that  they 
never  signed  it,  knowing  what  they  did,  nor  in  any  way  authorized 
others  to  sign  ilon  their  behalf.  The  "  Friends"  in  one  of  the  works 
mentioned  at  the  head  of  this  article,  give  at  full  length  the  "bribery 
contracts,"  as  they  call  them,  and  one  atlidavit,  testifying  that  twenty- 
live  dollars  was  olFercd  to  a  certain  Seneca,  if  he  would  lorge  the 
name  of  a  chief  to  the  power  of  attorney  lor  signing  the  treaty,  and 
then  swear  that  the  signature  was  genuine. 

The  treaty  went  again  to  the  Senate,  who  advised  the  {'resident  to 
make  proclamation  of  it  and  carry  it  into  ellect,  whenever  lie  should 
be  satisfied  that  it  had  received  the  assent  of  the  Senecas,  according 
to  the  true  intent  and  moaning  of  the  Senate's  lornier  resolution.  In 
August,  IHIi'J,  the  Secretary  of  War  and  (ion.  Dearburn  met  the 
Senecas  in  council.  Of  the  result,  the  President  says:  '■  \o  advance 
toward  obtaining  the  aasenl  of  the  Scnccud  to  the  amended  treaty,  in 


484 


APPENDIX. 


council,  was  made  ;  nor  can  a  majority  of  them  in  council  now  be  ob- 
tained ;"  and  again  :  "  That  improper  means  have  been  employed  to 
obtain  the  assent  of  the  Seneca  chiefs,  there  is  every  reason  to  be- 
lieve." It  was  referred,  in  tiie  Senate,  to  the  Connnittee  on  Indian 
affairs,  who  rc|)ortcil  a  resolution  for  rejecting  it.  The  Senate,  how- 
ever, March  25,  18-10,  passed  a  contrary  resolution,  it  is  said,  by  the 
casting  vote  of  its  presiding  otticer ;  and  the  President,  April  4,  pro- 
claimed it,  as  a  i)art  of  the  law  of  the  land.  The  ratification  of  a 
treaty  re(]uires  the  assent  of  two-thirds  of  the  senators  present. 
Whether  this  vote  wn-'  a  ratification,  and  therefore  void  for  want  of  the 
constitutional  majorily.  is  a  disputed  (luestion. 

The  Scnecas  tlien  apjjlied  to  the  government  of  Massachusetts,  a8 
their  ancient  protector ;  aiul  the  "  Friends"  of  the  four  "  Yearly 
Meetings"  sent  on  their  memorial.  These  papers  were  referred  by 
the  Governor  and  Council,  to  a  Committee,  of  which  John  R.  Adan, 
Esq.,  was  Chairman.  The  Report  was  accepted  by  the  Council  and 
•■'pproved  by  the  (iovernor,  November  21,  1840.  It  is  brief,  but  able. 
It  concludes  that  the  assent  of  the  Commonwealth  to  the  sale  of  Re- 
servations, though  made  ir^  ignorance  of  important  facts,  which,  if 
kno'vn,  would  have  prevented  it,  cannot  be  retracted.  It  sets  forth 
several  strong  arguments  against  the  validity  of  that  sale  ;  but  these 
only  raise  a  "  legal  question, — a  question  of  title  to  the  lands,  which 
must  be  determined  by  a  judicial  tribunal,  and  cannot  be  determined 
by  the  Executive  Department  of  IMassachusetts."  "  Considering  the 
nature  of  the  objections  to  the  Ogden  Company's  title,  we  think  the 
character  of  tliat  Company,  and  of  those  who  conduct  its  affairs,  as 
well  as  the  interest  of  both  parties,  recjuire  that  those  objections  should 
be  fairly  met  and  judicially  settled  without  delay.  Until  that  shall  be 
done,  the  Scnecas  will  j)robably  rcuiainat  their  old  homes; — and  the 
(Jgden  (Company  may  not  find  it  easy  to  sell  them,  or  any  part  of  them, 
to  any  prudent  purchaser." 

Such  is  the  present  .situation  of  this  affair.  Those  who  wish  to 
examine  in  detail  the  long  and  sickening  series  of  astounding  frauds 
by  whi(!h  it  has  been  hrou^  iit  into  this  situation,  may  consult  the  pub- 
lications from  which  this  abstract  has  been  made. 

Thus  far  the  Journal  of  Commerce.  It  should  be  stated,  in  order 
that  his  name  may  be  held  in  everlasting  remembrance, — for  good  if 
he  has  done  good,  and  for  evil  if  evi'., — that  the  name  of  the  United 
States  Commissioner,  under  whose  conduct  such  proceedings  have  been 
had,  is  Gillett,  recently  a  member  of  Congress  from  the  county  of  St. 
Lawrence,  N.  V.  His  duty,  in  theory,  was  to  watch  over  the  interests 
of  the  Indians,  and  shield  them  from  the  rapacity  and  fraud  of  the 
white  man.  How  far,  and  with  what  degree  of  fidelity  he  has  per- 
formed that  duty,  is  a  question  which  the  public  must  decide. 


\ 


icil  now  be  ob- 
;n  employed  to 
f  reason  to  be- 
ittee  on  Indian 
Senate,  how- 
is  said,  lay  the 
t,  April  4,  pro- 
itification  of  a 
lators  present, 
for  want  of  the 

ssachusetts,  as 
four  "  Yearly 
!re  referred  by 
John  R.  Adan, 
le  Council  and 
brief,  but  able, 
lie  sale  of  Re- 
lets, which,  if 
It  sets  forth 
lie ;  but  these 
3  lands,  which 
be  determined 
onsidering  the 
we  think  the 
its  affairs,  as 
ections  should 
1  that  shall  be 
les  ; — and  the 
part  of  them, 


who  wish  to 
unding  frauda 
[iBult  the  pub< 

-      .     -   '*- 

ited,  in  order 
, — for  good  if 
'f  the  United 
igs  have  been 
county  of  St. 
■  the  interests 
fraud  of  the 
he  has  per- 
;ide. 


% 


